The effects of eight weeks bodyweight training on the body fat and functional fitness of overweight students during Corona pandemic: A randomized controlled trial

Nowadays, Obesity and being overweight increased dramatically worldwide as one of the most serious public health problems during Corona, especially among students. Overweight students are at a high risk of obesity in adolescence. This study aimed to check out the influences of body weight training as an available training on body fat and functional fitness of overweight students.The participant students (۱۶.۱±۱.۲۶ years old; n = ۳۰) were randomly divided into the experimental group (CEP, n = ۱۵) and the control group (CG, n = ۱۵). The pre/post assessment included: (۱) body fat percentage; (۲) functional fitness (agility, and core muscle endurance). the training protocol consisted of eight weeks of body weight strength training. (Four sessions per week). After proving the normality of data distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the exercises and Leven’s test was used to prove the assumption of homogeneity of variance. The data were also analyzed by SPSS ۲۶ software.The results revealed a significant decrease in body fat percentage after training (p = ۰/۰۴۳, f =۴\۵۲). Robust statistical differences in core muscle endurance (p = ۰.۰۴; f = ۴\۶۸۱). Agility improved but in comparison with CG wasn’t significant (p = ۰\۱۴; f = ۲\۳۰). In the control group body fat percentage increased and functional fitness levels declined.Body weight strength training can effectively reduce body fat, increase functional fitness, and enhance the health parameters of overweight students. Thus, we suggest using the body weight strength program to prevent future obesity in overweight students.

Keywords:

Obesity , functional , Student , Bodyweight training