Introduction. At present, the issue of using the potential of physical culture and sports for the correction of various aspects of public health is being widely discussed. The relevance of this study is determined by the need to optimize the process of physical education by increasing the degree of awareness of the physical capabilities and abilities of the individual, the socio-psychological demands of society. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for the formation of a positive self-attitude of university students in the process of physical education and sports. Methodology and organization of the study. The content of the experiment was to increase the realism of the level of physical development and to promote the formation of a positive self-attitude of 1st year students of the university by means of physical culture and sports. Results of the study and their discussion. Against the background of an increase in the level of objective indicators of physical fitness in the experimental and control groups, in the latter there is an increase in the degree of awareness of the physical "I" of students, while in the control group the indicators of self-assessment of physical development remained at the same level. To increase the level of physical fitness in the control group does not change the self-attitude of the individual in the field of physical culture and sports, this requires special methods of psychologically oriented physical education. Conclusions. The use of various methods in physical culture and sports classes at a university that promote students' awareness of their own physical development is an effective means of influencing these classes on the personality of university students