Effects of an 8-week physical activity program on body composition and physical fitness on obese and pre obese female students

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of a physical activity-training program on bodycomposition and physical fitness in female obese and pre obese students. An experimental group of eightstudents (12.13±0.99 years-old) and a control group of eight students (13.25±1.16 years-old) were selected. Theexperimental group was involved in a three-day physical activity per week (aerobic and strength training), duringeight weeks. Fitnessgram protocol was used to evaluate both groups body composition and physical fitness,before and after the eight-week training program. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate differencesbetween groups and assessment moments. The experimental group presented a trend to maintain bodycomposition values and to increase physical fitness. In contrast, the control group presented a trend to increasebody composition and to decrease fitness levels. These data seem to demonstrate that an eight-week physicalactivity-training program allows only the maintenance of body composition and physical fitness of overweightchildren. As such, apart from physical exercise, eating habits should also be checked as a mean to improve healthand physical fitness of obese children