ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an exercise program on physical fitness, obesity indices, and blood lipids in cases of non-obese and obese women. METHOD: Data was collected from May, 2006 to November, 2006 in a public health center. All Subjects(37 women) participated in an exercise program that consisted of Latin dance, muscular strength training, and dumbbell exercises. Thirty-seven women were divided into two groups(16 non-obese women and 21 obese women) by %body fat. After 8 weeks, the effects of treatment were compared between pre-test and post-test in each group. RESULTS: Physical fitness(abdominal muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, agility, balance) was significantly different between the pre-test and post-test in the non-obese and obese group. Obesity indices(body weight, BMI) was significantly different in obese women after the 8-week exercise program. There was no decrease of blood lipids in either group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that an exercise program could be an effective nursing intervention to increase physical fitness in non-obese and obese women and to decrease obesity indices(body weight, BMI) in obese women.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Body Fat Distribution , Body Mass Index , Cholesterol/blood , Exercise Therapy/methods , Muscle Strength , Obesity/therapy , Program Evaluation , Range of Motion, ArticularABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of an exercise program on physical fitness, cardiopulmonary function and life satisfaction for adult women. METHOD: The exercise program combined dance and resistance training. The subject group consisted of 114 women aged between 33 and 60. Three 8-week sessions consisted of 55-80% HR max for 60-90 minutes a day and 3 times a week from March to November, 2004. Data were collected through pre- and post-exercise tests before and after each session. Data were collected with dynamometer, sphygmomamometer, spirometer and structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed employing descriptive statistics and paired t-test with SPSS/PC(10.0version) program. RESULTS: There were significantly positive changes in muscle strength, flexibility, balance quality, forced vital capacity and life satisfaction, but no significantly positive changes in agility and blood pressure. CONCLUSION: This study showed that an exercise program has partially positive effects for adult women. The results of this study suggest that there should be programs of continuous exercise at community health centers for adult women's health.