Effects of Physical Conditioning on Self-Concept of Adult Obese Males

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate possible psychological changes in obese men after participating in an eight-week nutrition and physical conditioning program. The subjects, 45 male, metropolitan policemen who were considered at least 20 percent over their optimum body weights, were placed on diets and received weekly instruction on topics of nutrition and exercise. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups, one that participated in aerobic conditioning and one that did not. The amount of oxygen consumption, as an index of physical fitness, and performance on selected subscales of the Tennessee Self-concept Scale (TSCS) were measured before and after the training and conditioning programs. Both groups displayed significant increases in oxygen consumption and on the Physical Self and Self-satisfaction subscales, but on all these measures, the Conditioning Group increased significantly (2 to 3 times) more. For both groups, the Total Variability measure from the TSCS showed significant reductions, which have been associated with personality integration. These results demonstrate that physical conditioning and dietary educational sessions or educational sessions alone are associated with positive changes in self-concept in obese individuals and also corroborate other studies that show links between physical and psychological fitness.

A systematic review of health promotion intervention studies in the police force: study characteristics, intervention design and impacts on health

“…Across the remaining multigroup studies with higher risk of bias ratings (in ≥7 items) the most commonly reported outcomes were fitness and weight. CVF increased by ~11% in a 10-week supervised aerobic exercise intervention (compared with ~1% improvement in an anaerobic training group and a ~0.8% deterioration in a control group)49, and by ~21% (compared with 13.4% in a control group)41 over 9 weeks, and by ~38% (compared with ~13% in an education only group)51 over 8 weeks of combined physical activity and diet interventions (structured activity plus education). The only other controlled trial that measured CVF did not find any improvement after 16 weeks of structured exercise only 50.…”

“…Follow-up duration ranged from 8 weeks51 to 6 years31–33 following intervention (duration of ≤6 months, n=18 studies;36–46 48–55 18 months, n=1 study;47 24 months, n=1 study34 35 and 6 years, n=131–33 study).…”

“…Reported objective measures of health and lifestyle outcomes over time included: weight and/or body mass index (BMI) (n=12 studies)31 35–41 44 47 50 52 54; physical fitness (CV, muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility) in 10 studies using timed runs or shuttle (n=3)44 45 49, step (n=2)40 50, cycle ergometer (n=1)41, or treadmill (n=2)51 53 tests, a timed job-specific obstacle course (n=1)47, maximal strength tests (n=6)40 41 44 48 50 53, muscular endurance (sit-ups per minute (n=3)40 41 44), flexibility (sit and reach test (n=3)40 41 48, power (vertical jump, Wingate, arm crank and t–test (n=2)44 48), and agility (n=1)48; blood pressure (n=6)35 40 42 49 50 53; blood glucose (n=2)35 37, cholesterol (n=3)37 40 53), triglycerides (n=2)36 53 and insulin, insulin resistance, C reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (n=1)37, leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin (n=1)36; waist circumference (n=2)36 37 50 and bicep and chest size (n=1)50; and body fat using skinfolds (n=6)36 40 41 44 53 54. Self-reported surveys were used across a number of studies to explore: stress (n=5 studies)34 35 46 49 50 52; burn-out (n=1)34; physical activity (n=2)34 35 52; diet and nutrient intake using surveys (n=3)34 35 43 54 and a diary (n=1)31 32; sleep and fatigue (n=1)34 35; general health (n=2)34 35 49; psychological health (n=1)50; self-concept (n=151); mood (n=146); mindfulness (n=1)46; musculoskeletal discomfort (n=1)34; quality of life (n=1)49; hunger and satiety (n=1)37; alcohol consumption (n=1)52 and smoking status (n=2) 40 52…”

“…Eleven out of 13 studies with a comparison or control group/s, reported improvements in outcomes from baseline to final follow-up in intervention group/s over and above that of comparison or control group/s. Outcomes that improved were: diet (n=1 study)34 35, hunger and satiety (n=1)36; sleep quality (n=1)34 35 and quantity (over the short-term)34; tobacco use (n=1)35; quality of life (n=1)49, wellness (n=1)55 and general health (n=1)49; areas of psychological health (particularly somatisation, depression, anxiety and hostility (n=1)50 and physical self-concept and self-satisfaction (n=1)51); stress (n=3)34 35 49 50; cardiovascular fitness (CVF), (n=2)49 51, power and sprint speed (n=1)44, calories expended (n=1)43, strength (n=1)54; muscular endurance (n=1)41, flexibility (n=1)41, heart rate (n=1)49, blood pressure (n=2)42 49 and bicep size (n=1)50; weight (n=1)36, body fat (n=2)41 54; lean body mass (n=1)54; waist circumference (n=1)50; and biochemistry (insulin concentration, insulin resistance, HDL cholesterol and TNF-α, (n=1)36). The two studies with the lowest risk of bias ratings34 35 42 (rating low in 7 and 10 items, respectively) found improvements in outcomes.…”

Exercise Maintenance of Persons with Arthritis after Participation in a Class Experience

“…12-17 It is known that an exercise experience can influence exercise-related self-efficacy, performance, beliefs in benefit, and perceptions of barriers. [16][17][18][19] Consequently, personal experience with a behavior could change attitudes and beliefs from those held when the person was naive to the experience, and affect subsequent decisions.…”