Effects of aerobic interval training versus continuous moderate exercise programme on aerobic and anaerobic capacity, somatic features and blood lipid profile in collegate females.

INTRODUCTION: Regular physical activity has many positive health benefits, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases and some cancers, as well as improving the quality of life. objectives. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of 8-week aerobic interval cycle exercise training (AIT) compared to continuous cycle exercises of moderate intensity (CME) on the aerobic and anaerobic capacity, somatic features and lipid profile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted in 88 volunteers aged 19.5±0.6 years, who were randomized to three groups of organized physical activity (OPA), who exercised 3 times per week in 47 min sessions: (I) AIT (n=24) comprising 2 series of 6x10 s sprinting with maximal pedalling cadence and active rest pedalling with intensity 65%-75% HRmax, (II) CME (n=22) corresponding to 65%-75% HRmax, (III) regular collegiate physical education classes of programmed exercises (CON; n=42). Before and after OPA anthropometrics, aero- and anaerobic capacity and lipid profile indices were measured. RESULTS: In AIT, a significantly greater decrease of waist circumference and WHR was noted when compared to CON, and a significantly greater reduction of sum of skinfolds than in CON and CME. Improvement in relative and absolute VO2max (L/min and ml/kg/min) was significantly higher in AIT than CON. Work output and peak power output in the anaerobic test improved significantly in AIT, CME and CON, but independently of training type. OPA was effective only in reducing triglyceride concentrations in CME and CON groups, without interaction effects in relation to training type. CONCLUSION: It was found that 8 weeks of OPA was beneficial in improving somatic and aerobic capacity indices, but AIT resulted in the greatest improvement in somatic indices (waist circumference, WHR, sum of skinfolds) and in VO2max, compared to CME and CON programmes.

The physique and body composition of students studying physical education: a preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: Young people who study physical education are a priori regarded as having proper body structure and body composition. This assumption cannot be confirmed in the subject literature. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the basic auxological parameters in youth who study physical education. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 235 first-year students studying physical education were examined: 32% women (n=74) and 68% men (n=161). The students' body height, weight, waist, and hip circumference were measured. Body composition (bioimpedance method), specifying the body fat percentage (FM%) and fat free mass (FFM%) was also assessed. RESULTS: The mean normalized height of the female body was 0.48±1.07 SDS, and for the male body 0.51±1.04 SDS. The mean normalized weight for women was 0.4±0.94 SDS, and for men it was 0.83±0.9 SDS. The mean fat percentage in the body composition of women and men was, respectively, 21.5±5.06, ranging from 10.16% to 35.06%, and 12.5±3.97, ranging from 4.36% to 22.28%. In one-third of the women, the percentage of fat in the body composition was higher than 25%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Young people who choose to study physical education and physical culture are characterized by greater height and greater body weight than the general population, regardless of gender. 2. Short persons study physical education less often than tall individuals. 3. The greater body weight observed in the majority of students studying physical education, in comparison to that of the general population, was caused by a dominant percentage of lean body mass in body composition; unexpectedly, however, some women were observed to have relatively high fat content. 4. Use of the body mass index and waist-hip ratio was not a sufficiently sensitive screening examination to detect fatness in physically active young adults; therefore, it should not substitute for the determination of fat content in body composition.

[Fat content in young adults determined by skinfolds and body composition analyzator]. / Zawartosc tkanki tluszczowej u mlodych doroslych oceniona na podstawie pomiaru faldów skórno-tluszczowych i wskazan analizatora skladu ciala

INTRODUCTION: Body composition analysis is essential in assessing the nutritional status, as well as the risk of developing diseases associated with abnormal body fat content. At present, many methods are available to measure the amount and distribution of body fat. Among them, of particular importance are those methods that are simple, do not require expensive equipment and allow the assessment of the body composition of a large number of people (population study). However, previous observations show that they provide different results, and, therefore, further analysis and comparisons should be conducted in different age, sex and body composition groups. AIM OF THE STUDY: The goal was to compare the anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) methods used to assess body composition in young women and men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 65 women and 109 men, physical education students, took part in the study. Average chronological age of the women was 20.5±3.1 years and men 19.9±1.4 years. Body weight, height and thickness of 4 skinfolds (SF; over the biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac) were measured. The percentage of body fat in the anthropometric method was calculated using the Durnin and Womersley's equation. Assessment of body composition was also made by the BIA method. All the measurements in every person were made on the same day. RESULTS: The mean BMI was 21.4±1.9 in women and 23.9±2.4 in men. The mean percentage of body fat obtained by anthropometric method was 16.7±7.1% in women and 10.2±6.6% in men. The amount of body fat estimated by the BIA method was higher than that calculated by skinfold thickness among female students by about 5% (p <0.001), while for male students by 3% (p <0.001). The correlation coefficients between the anthropometric method and BIA method for women and men were 0.448 (p <0.05) and 0.380 (p <0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The anthropometric and BIA methods provide different results of body fat content, especially in women, so they should not be used interchangeably.

[Assessment of anaerobic capacity for subjects with short, normal and tall stature between 18-23 years of age]. / Ocena wydolnosci beztlenowej nisko-, normo- i wysokoroslych osób w wieku 18-23 lat.

INTRODUCTION: Until now it has not been established whether anaerobic capacity of subjects with short stature, statistically comprising 10% of the population, differs from those of normal and tall stature (> 90 centile). No results of studies comparing anaerobic capacity for subjects with a range of body heights have been published in literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 435 (women 57%, men 43%) healthy young adults ranging between 18-23 years of age. Physical parameters for anaerobic capacity (work, maximum generated power and duration) have been marked during a 10-second exercise burst carried out on a cycloergometer. Subjects were classified into three body height categories: < 10 centile (ct)--short stature; between 10-90 ct--normal stature; > 90 ct--tall stature. RESULTS: Short stature was noted in 5% subjects, with a height deficiency (≤ -2.0 SDS) noted in 0.7% subjects. Tall stature was noted among 22% subjects. In both sexes the cohort included a significantly greater than expected (p < 0.001) number of tall-statured subjects and a significantly lower number (p < 0.01) of short-statured subjects. No differences were found in the mean parameters of anaerobic capacity for subjects of short, normal and tall stature, with the exception of women of tall stature whose results were significantly better than those for women of normal stature. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found in the capacities of subjects with short, normal and tall stature. However, with regard to women, in particular those of tall stature, a correlation between body height and anaerobic capacity was observed. It must be noted that the majority of the worst results were noted among the short-statured subjects, indicating that caution must be taken during interpretation of anaerobic capacity levels among this population. In order to correctly interpret results of anaerobic capacity studies, a standard needs to be put in place for the national population taking into regard sex and age, while for people of short stature the causes of their short stature must be established.