Physiological, Anthropometrical, and Self Concept Changes in Overweight College Women as Affected by Exercise and Voluntary Diet

Abstract

The purpose of this study was twofold: to analyze the effects of a combination exercise program and voluntary diet on selected anthropometric and physiological variables of overweight girls at South Dakota State University, and to determine if measurable changes in self-concept were evident. Hypothesis 1. In the selected anthropometric and physiological variables of overweight girls there is a significant. improvement as a result of participation in a voluntary diet and prescribed exercise program. 2. There is no significant measurable change in self concept of overweight girls as a result of participation in a voluntary diet and prescribed exercise program. Limitations and Delimitations. 1. The study was limited to fifty-five South Dakota State University volunteer women students with body fat of twenty-five percent or greater. 2. The diet was a voluntary diet controlled by each individual subject with the aid of a calorie chart and counseling on the use of the calorie chart by the investigators 3. The exercises completed by the Experimental Group were limited to warm-up exercises the first ten minutes of each session, two levels of the XBX Royal Canadian progressive exercise program, and a progressive jogging program. The exercise program was conducted Monday through Friday for a total of thirty-six training days. 4. Only the variables of percent body fat, weight, selected girth measurements, cardiovascular fitness, and self-concept were investigated