EFFECTS OF GROUP EXERCISE PROGRAM ON MORPHOLOGICAL STATUS OF FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The objective of the research was to determine the effects of the “Body Workout” aerobic exercises on morphological characteristics of female university students after a period of 2 months with training sessions in the duration of three hours per week. The sample of research participants was made up of female university students from the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Novi Sad (AGE = 22.13±0.98 years) that were actively included in the workout program. The total sample participating in the research comprised of 52 participants, 25 of which comprised the experimental group (AGE=22.11±0.89; TV=166.11±5.01) while the remaining 27 of them comprised the control group (AGE=22.45±0.78 years, TV=169.51±5.04). The experimental group followed the “Body Workout” aerobic exercises model and the control group followed the regular curriculum for the university course of Fitness (Rekreacija in Serbian) at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Novi Sad. At the initial measuring, there were no statistically significant differences among the participants (P=0.41). Physical changes that occurred in the participants’ bodies during the research period of two months were followed by means of monitoring of twelve morphological characteristics. According to the research results, significant effects were determined in transformation of morphological characteristics among the members of the experimental group on the level of the entire system (P=0.00) and the individual differences could be perceived in the final measuring in variables Circumference of the lower leg (p=0.05), Skinfold of biceps brachii (p=0.00), Skinfold of triceps brachii (p=0.00), Skinfold of the forearm (p=0.00), Subscapula skinfold (p=0.02) and Abdominal skinfold (p=0.00) among the members of the experimental group. That is an indication that the experimental Body Workout program had a significant impact on the above mentioned characteristics. At the same time, it was determined that the experimental program of aerobic exercises produced the greatest effects on the reduction in subcutaneous fatty tissue.