# The effects of fitness self-testing with instant feedback on changes in health-related fitness among Chinese male college students

## TL;DR

Using fitness self-testing with instant feedback improved flexibility and aerobic fitness in Chinese male college students over 16 weeks.

## Contribution

Demonstrated that GAI feedback during self-testing can effectively enhance specific health-related fitness components in a university population.

## Key findings

- Significant improvement in sit and reach (flexibility) and one-mile run (aerobic fitness) in the intervention group.
- No significant changes in BMI or pull-ups test between the groups.
- Technology-supported self-testing showed promise for enhancing health-related fitness outcomes.

## Abstract

The decline in health-related physical fitness resulting from physical inactivity remains a critical global public health concern. Technology-supported fitness self-testing has the potential not only to improve students’ testing experiences but also to enhance their health-related fitness. However, the effectiveness of such approaches has not yet been systematically examined, and their validity within university populations remains largely unestablished.

A quasi-experimental research design with a control group (n = 45) and an experimental group (n = 44), incorporating pre- and post-tests, was employed in this study. The experimental group completed monthly self-testing sessions accompanied by GAI-generated instant feedback over a 16-week period, whereas the control group participated in general physical education classes that included multiple physical activities. Health-related fitness (HRF) was assessed using BMI, the one-mile run, pull-ups, and sit and reach tests. VO₂max was included as a covariate to control for baseline differences in HRF between the two groups. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance (RM-MANCOVA) was conducted to examine the effects of the intervention on HRF outcomes.

After controlling for baseline VO2max, RM-MANCOVA indicated significant time × group interaction for sit and reach (p < 0.001) and one-mile run (p < 0.05), with the intervention group demonstrating significant improvement in both tests. However, no significant differences were observed between groups for body mass index (BMI) and the pull-ups test.

These findings suggested that HRF self-testing with instant GAI feedback was an effective intervention for improving certain HRF components, particularly flexibility and aerobic fitness. Further research is necessary to explore the long-term effects of self-testing and its application across diverse populations.