The effect of movement intervention for women attending courses in weight reduction

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Background: Accelerated pace of life and consumerism leads to an increase in obesity. The key element in programs to reduce overweight and obesity is regular physical activity (PA) by means of a healthy lifestyle. Walking, which can be simply assessed by pedometers is appropriate PA that is accessible to everyone, regardless of age and gender. Objective: The aim of our study was to analyse the effect of courses in weight reduction to the selected body composition (BC) parameters in the obese and overweight women of various age and PA level. Methods: 124 women with existing sendenary lifestyles participated in the study, they were differentiated by age (< 40 years: aged 31.3 ± 5.4 years, body weight of 88.2 ± 18.5 kg, body height of 166.5 ± 9.5 cm and ≥ 40 years: aged 51.6 ± 7.5 years, body weight of 88.9 ± 13.3 kg, body height of 163.8 ± 8.2 cm). We divided the monitored sample into sub-groups according to the level of their PA. To determine the average daily number of footsteps during the PA the Yamax pedometer was used. InBody 720 device using the Direct Multi-frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Method (DSM-BIA Method) was used to measure and analyse the BC. Results: Based on monitoring of PA and BC health risk indicators the effect of the exercise program, which included cognitive behavioural therapy, showed a decline in body mass index (BMI) and body fat expressed in percentages (PBF) and in the decrease of the visceral fat area (VFA). The amount of fat-free mass (FFM) remained the same. Preceding the therapy the BMI average was within the obesity group (BMI > 30 kg/m2). Following the three month therapy we observed in women with a higher level of PA a shift to the overweight group. Therapy contributed to a reduction in PBF from 2.4% to 3.9% even though the women's groups were still classified as obese (> 35%). During the repeated measurements significant changes (p < .05) occurred only in the VFA in relation to different ages. Conclusions: Research studies have shown positive relationships between the increase in PA and changes in health risk indicators. Observance of the recommended number of 10,000 footsteps per day primarily prevents the increase in body fat mass (BFM) and maintains FFM. Taking up a weight reduction program is essential when commencing the weight loss process in the course of lifestyle change.