A study on health status and physical fitness of rural women in Dharwad Taluk

Abstract

Physical Fitness is the basis for dynamic and creative intellectual activity. The intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong. In the present situation there is need for the women to measure and analyze their physical fitness for their own benefit and improvement of health. Hence, the study was taken with the objective to analyse the health status and physical fitness of rural women. Sixty non-pregnant, non-lactating subjects without any cardio-respiratory complaints were selected for the studies were falling within the age range of 25-45 years. Maximum percentage of the women (28.33%) belonged to low weight normal category of body mass index. The mean lean body mass of the respondents was 45.91 kg and mean per cent fat was found to be 19.35 per cent. Majority of the respondents fell in the mesomorph body type. The estimation of aerobic capacity revealed that majority of the rural women (50.00%) had high average aerobic capacity of 26 to 30 ml/kg× min. The step test ergometer exercise showed that equal percentage of the respondents (33.33%) belonged to high average and low average physical fitness level.