The effects of 35 weeks of extra-curricular, mainly aerobic, dynamic physical activity were analysed in overweight and obese 7-year-old boys contrasted with control groups. Body composition was estimated by using the body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thicknesses. Overweight or obesity was defined according to the suggestions of Cole and associates (2000). The activity program consisted of swimming and water games, folk dance, and soccer. Data were collected four times between September 2003 and October 2004.Thirty-one overweight or obese boys volunteered to participate in the activity program (weekly, two physical education classes of 45 min. plus three extra-curricular activity sessions of 60 min. duration). The control subjects were 43 overweight or obese boys, and 75 non-overweight and nonobese ones. The controls had only two curricular physical education classes every week. Physical performance capacity was tested by a 30 m dash, 400 m run, standing long jump, and fist-ball throw.Body fat content estimated by taking the sum of five skinfolds decreased significantly during the 35-week training program. However, body weight as well as skinfold thicknesses increased significantly during the four-month non-active period that followed. Physical performance improved during the test period, but deteriorated between the third and fourth data collections. BMI, as well as the sum of five skinfolds increased in both control groups. Physical performance decreased in the overweight control subjects and increased moderately in the non-obese ones. We inferred that more vigorous habitual exercise alone, i.e., without a program of dietary control, though effective, could not efficiently stabilise body fat, still less achieve a lasting reduction of it. Obese, but also overweight subjects need long-term exercise programs of sufficient intensity, duration, and frequency, plus dietary measures, to get rid of excess body fat.
Health awareness, motor performance and physical activity of female university students
Study aim: To assess body composition, health awareness and cardiorespiratory fitness in female university students differing in volume of obligatory physical activity classes.
Material and methods: 109 female students of the University of West Hungary volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups according to frequency and volume of obligatory physical activity: students of recreation and health education programmes (RHE; n = 27) and of social pedagogy, tourism and catering, and teacher training programmes (STT; n = 82). Basic somatic characteristics were measured, body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance, cardiorespiratory fitness was evaluated using the Rockport Fitness Walking Test and health behaviour was assessed by questionnaire method. Student's t-test for independent samples, the U Mann Whitney test or chi-square test were used in data analysis.
Results: RHE students had higher values of percentage muscle mass (p<0.05) and of cardiorespiratory performance (p<0.001), they also declared significantly more frequently (p<0.001) practicing leisure physical activity as compared with the STT group. However, in both groups the symptoms of unhealthy behaviour were observed.
Conclusions: Although beneficial effects of augmented physical activity on body composition, cardiorespiratory performance and attitudes towards taking up leisure-time activity was noted, attention should be paid to symptoms of unhealthy behaviour observed in female students. This support the need for including obligatory physical education classes in university curriculum and the importance of education and promotion of healthy behaviour among the students.
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