Abstract
Objective In the present study, 23 healthy female college students presenting with a trend toward obesity having the body fat ratio of more than 25% were enrolled and asked to perform both walking and 30-second abdominal muscle exercises (raising the upper body) twice a week, whereby investigations were conduct-ed to verify whether twice-a-week periodic exercises would improve obesity of female college students.
Methods The exercise intensity for walking was set at 60% of the targeted heart rate. Incidentally, the exercises last-ed for 10 weeks. On the first physical education program (before exercise) and the final day for education program (after exercise), we performed determination of body sizes, body fat, heart rate 1, 2 and 3 minutes after completion of the step test and 30-second upper body raising exercise.
Result and Discussion The skin fold thickness of upper arm and scapula was decreased after exercises, together with significant decrease in body fat ratio, with lean body mass being significantly elevated. The heart rates 1, 2 and 3 minutes after completion of the step test were decreased after exercises; despite of increase in the decision index, there was no significant difference. The repetition times of the upper body raising exercises were significantly increased after exercises compared with those before exercises. According to the correlation analysis on the heart rates 1, 2 and 3 minutes after completion of the step test, and the decision indices as well as the upper body raising exercises, significant negative correlation was observed between the heart rates and the repetition times of the upper body raising exercises 3 minutes after completion of the step test following the subject exercises, while significant correlation was evidenced between the decision indices and the repetition times of the upper body rais-ing exercises. According to the above results, it has become evident that twice-a-week periodic exercises would reduce the body fat, leading to improvement of aerobic ability.
Conclusion These findings suggest that twice-a-week periodic exercises are effective in improving obesity in female college students.
