Making exercise a stress outlet may help students attain recommended amounts of physical activity and to maintain that routine, students need social support from family and friends, said researchers including one of an Indian origin.

“Accessing internal and external sources of inspiration and resilience is an effective and sustainable model for positive change,” said Mr Vinayak K. Nahar, Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi. “Physicians who want to encourage their patients to get more physical activity should suggest the techniques from this study,” he added. For the study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, researchers surveyed 135 college students, assessing their willingness to exercise for the recommended 150 minutes per week. Participants were asked to weigh pros, like improved energy and health, against perceived disadvantages, like being tired and not having enough time for academics or leisure.