Abstract

Background: The regular practice of physical activity (PA) is recognized for its effect on health. During university educa-tion, academic overload increases. Aims: 1). Determine the variables of PA, sedentary behavior (SB); light intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) on both weekdays and weekends. 2). Analyze whether there are differences between PA, LPA and MVPA with the level of academic stress perceived by students of a health career during the period of final exam. Method: Observational study with a descriptive approach and cross section. Sample of 37 university students of 21.9+/-2.1 years (17 men of 21.9+/-2.5 and 20 women of 21.9+/-1.7 years), third-year of the Kinesiology program. The level of PA was evaluated with accelerometry and the perception of the level of academic stress was measured with the Systemic Cognitive Inventory (SISCO), during the week of final exam. Statistical analyzes were performed with the Stata program version 16.0. Results: Men present a lower SISCO score (2.9+/-0.3) than women (3.2+/-0.5) p=0.0055. All are insufficiently active, who perceive the overload of tasks and/or work as stressful, present fewer minutes dedicated to MVPA on weekdays (p=0.0245), and weekends (p=0.0347). Conclusion: University students during the period of final exam are insufficiently active, perceive moderate to severe levels of aca-demic stress and those who perceive a greater overload of tasks and assignments spend less time in MVPA, during the final exam period.