In a recent physical examination, she was diagnosed with high cholesterol, a common condition which may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

"Although these are all minor problems, I am worried about my health," Liu told Chinanews.com. 

Liu is not alone. The expression "brittle college students" has gone viral online recently, with many college students sharing their unexpected experiences of injury and ill health on social media. One netizen reported he dislocated his jaw while yawning. Another said he suffered a bone fracture while goose-stepping during a military training. Incidents like these have now increased to a point where, "brittle college students" is no longer just a term used by college students for self-mockery—it has sounded the alarm for college students' health.

According to a report on Chinese college students' health, jointly released by online health information service provider Dingxiangyuan and the China Youth Daily newspaper in 2020, 86 percent of the more than 12,117 college students surveyed said they had had health problems in the past year, with skin problems, poor sleep and emotional problems being the top three most prominent problems. More than 20 percent of students surveyed had been diagnosed with illnesses at hospitals in the previous year, with oral and dental problems, acute gastroenteritis and skin conditions being the most common illnesses. 

The report of the Eighth National Survey on Student Physical Fitness and Health, released by the Ministry of Education in 2021, also showed that college students' health has deteriorated and problems such as obesity and lack of fitness are prominent.

Zhang Yimin, a professor of sports anatomy at Beijing Sport University, participated in the revision of the National Standards for Students' Physical Health released in 2014 and has been focused on college students' physical health for much of his career. He told Xinhua Daily Telegraph that even though some physical fitness standards have been lowered, students are still not meeting them.

For example, the benchmark time for male college students running 1,000 meters was three minutes 55 seconds in 1989, and was lowered to four minutes 32 seconds in 2014.

According to the aforementioned national standards, the physical fitness test for college students includes body mass index (BMI, an indicator of body fatness), lung capacity, long jump, seated toe touch (an indirect measure to assess hamstring and lower back flexibility), 1,000-meter run for male students and 800-meter run for female students.

The Chinese delegation at the opening ceremony of the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan Province in southwest China, on July 28 (XINHUA) 

Raising awareness 

Multiple factors have contributed to college students' declining physical health. For instance, college students themselves lack health awareness and follow an unhealthy lifestyle. Liu said that she seldom exercises at university. She goes to the classrooms for classes or studies in the library during the weekdays and lies in bed in her dormitory on weekends.

Li Jinglei, a postgraduate student in Shandong Province, said that there are no physical education (PE) courses for postgraduate students at his university and only around one in 10 students in his class exercise regularly. "I found it difficult even to find enough classmates to play basketball. In summer they say it's too hot and in winter too cold or they have other entertainment activities," he said.

Staying up late has also become a habit for many college students. According to a report jointly prepared by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the sleep institute of mattress supplier Sleemon, released in March, nearly 80 percent of college students go to bed after 11:30 pm and 17 percent of college students go to bed after 1:30 am. Experts say staying up late may harm the immune system, lead to chronobiological disorders and result in fluctuations in blood pressure.

Wang Xiaozan, a professor at the College of Physical Education and Health at East China Normal University, told Chinanews.com that many college students lack awareness of physical fitness and health and haven't realized the negative impact of unhealthy lifestyles over the long term.

Wang added that many universities and parents, too, do not attach enough importance to sport. Many college students haven't developed the habit of exercising and aren't able to experience the enjoyment of playing sport.

The physical education curriculum at universities has also failed to arouse students' interest in sports. Most courses focus on traditional sports such as soccer, basketball and running. Courses in sports popular among young people, such as yoga, are lacking.

Zhang said that there are no unifying standards for PE curricula at universities. Many universities offer PE lessons only for freshmen and sophomores, resulting in a lack of exercise for students.

More to be done 

The government has attached more importance to college students' physical fitness in recent years. In a guideline issued by the Ministry of Education in 2019, undergraduate students who fail to pass the physical fitness test for any one school year will not be able to receive their graduation certificate. Students with disabilities or health conditions are exempted from these tests.

Universities should play their role too. Liu Bo, Director of the Division of Sports Science and Physical Education at Tsinghua University, told Xinhua Daily Telegraph that universities should offer more interesting courses to arouse students' interest in sports.

At present Tsinghua University offers more than 50 sports courses including rhythmic gymnastics, skating and diving for undergraduates and, unlike many universities which don't offer PE courses for postgraduates, Tsinghua has optional sports courses for postgraduate students.

Wang said instead of forcing students to exercise, universities should provide them with more opportunities to experience the charm of sports.

(Print Edition Title: Young and Strong?) 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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