EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON BODY COMPOSITION IN ADULT WOMEN

Abstract

Data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) suggests that the number of obese people in Europe has tripled in the last 20 years and resulted in a prevalence of 130 million obese and 400 million people overweight (Sassi et al., 2009).Body composition is the relative percentage of fat and fat-free mass (bones, muscles, organs, water, blood) of total body weight. After Wilmore, Buskirk, DiGirolamo and Lohman (1986) the optimal level for health of body fat is 16-25% (18-30%) for women.The objective of our study was to assess body composition of adult women, identifying the effect of intervention program on body fat and lean mass, and uncover cases of obesity and overweight.The study involved 95 adult women from Fit4U Fitness Center in Oradea. Period of the study: February 2015 -June 2016. Anthropometric measurements were made: height, weight, circumference, subcutaneous folds. It was calculated the body mass index (BMI), body composition and optimal body weight (estimation based on the five skinfolds measures). The physical activity program consisted of Step -aerobics, Pilates and strength training in the gym, 3 times a week for 60-90 minutes, for 12 months.Results:mean body mass, BMI, BF%, real BF decreased significantly. Mean body fat percentage from 25,63% (± 6,53) decreased to 22,95% (± 5,56). In the studied group overweight and obesity is more frequent in the age group between 35-44 years, but it can be seen the prevalence in all age groups.Conclusions:the physical activity program had a beneficial effect on body composition -by reducing body fat.We found cases of overweight and obesity (21% of the study group).

Keywords

• body composition
• obesity
• adult women
• physical activity