2025, Vol. 12, Issue 6, Part E

Background: Health-related fitness (HRF) and body composition are recognized as critical determinants of both athletic performance and long-term health trajectories. While athletes typically undergo structured training, non-athlete university students often demonstrate sedentary tendencies that predispose them to health risks.

Objective: This review synthesizes evidence from 22 peer-reviewed studies (2010–2024) to systematically compare HRF and body composition indicators between university sportspersons and non-athletes.

Methods: A narrative synthesis was undertaken, drawing from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria required studies to assess university-aged participants (18–25 years) with standardized measures of HRF and body composition.

Results: Across diverse regions and populations, athletes consistently outperformed non-athletes in VO₂ max (25–35% higher), muscular strength (20–40% higher), and endurance (30% more repetitions in push-up/sit-up tests). Flexibility advantages were moderate yet significant, particularly in dynamic sports. Body composition disparities were marked: athletes exhibited leaner profiles (males: ~15% body fat; females: ~21%) compared with non-athletes (males: ~23%; females: ~29%). Gender and cultural variations influenced absolute scores but not the relative superiority of athletes.

Conclusion: Structured sports participation exerts protective effects against obesity and sedentary risks, while fostering superior physiological profiles during university years. Institutions should embed mandatory physical activity programs to cultivate lifelong health habits. Future studies must employ longitudinal and standardized approaches to establish normative HRF benchmarks.