Female Fitness Members: Meaningful Targets for Psycho-somatic and Behavioural Investigation

Abstract

Purpose: Purpose of the study was to assess psycho-somatic condition in fitness club members including depending on age, cultural diversity and duration of fitness training. Subjects:Russian Group included 148 novice, aged from 18 to 63 years and 36 long-term (i.e., involved into fitness training for 2 years) aged from 24 to 66 years female members of the urban fitness facility. Canadian Group included 100 females, aged from 19 to 71 years. The study groups were additionally stratified into younger (<50 years) and older (>50 years) subgroups.Methods: All participants were interviewed; Anthropometric measures and Aerobic Sub-maximal Stress-test were performed. Russian Group persons were additionally screened using Visual Analogue Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, E.Heim's coping inventory.Results: Female members of the diverse urban fitness facilities could not be positioned as mainly sound persons due to presumable arterial hypertension, locomotive problems; predominantly increased weight; prevalence of anxiety, depression. Conclusion:The obtained data confirm the necessity of accurately designed psycho-somatic assessment of female fitness-clients.Unhealthy body weight was registered in all novice female exercisers. Only 33% of Russian novice fitness members aimed at weight loss vs 38% of registered overweight and obese persons. The sustained fitness training for 2 years helped to maintain normal range of BMI in females aged <50 years, but not in members aged >50 years. Thus, weight loss strategy requires special analyzes and modification in female fitness members of all ages, and the mentioned cohort could be considered as a target group for further lifestyle changing and counselling.In comparison to Russian novice female fitness members, Canadian exercisers demonstrated higher aerobic fitness level, more intention to enhance somatic well-being, reported less health problems, less often noted positive emotions and mood improvement as the preferred training goal than Russian females. Russian novice exercisers were more dissatisfied with their appearance, than Canadian fitness members.In Russian novice female fitness members aged <50 years anxiety and depression were screened in 23% and 3.6% cases, respectively. It makes the cohort of fitness exercisers a target group for accurate mental health assessment. Compared to novice exercisers, Russian females involved into sustained fitness training demonstrated more adherence to healthy lifestyle, better somatic condition and aerobic fitness; absence of exercise-induced hypertension; normal levels of depression and anxiety. Negative changes in coping strategies, and pronounced need in positive emotions make long-term female fitness members a target group for psycho-somatic assessment and possible specific intervention.