ORIGINAL
ARTICLE – abstractAn
analysis study describing physical fitness level of overweight subjects U.Cavlak, O.Telli,
E.Baskan, F.Altug
Pamukkale University, School of Physical
Therapy and Rehabilitation, Denizli, Turkey
Abstract
Aim:
This study was planned to
compare the physical fitness level of overweight and normal subjects.
Methods:
50 subjects were divided into two groups: Group I (25 controls; mean
age: 29.52 +/- 7.94years)
and Group II
(25
overweight subjects; mean age: 35.21 +/-
8.31 years). Average of the
Body
Mass Index (BMI) scores of Group I and II were 21.68 +/- 1.90
kg/m², 28.35 +/- 3.24 kg/m², respectively. The
subjects
had no any health problems, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus,
and coronary heart diseases, neurological or musculoskeletal
dysfunctions. All subjects were evaluated using the following physical
fitness tests; Harward-Step, Push-ups, Sit-ups, Trunk Bending Forward
& Backward, and Flamingo Balance. The results obtained from
this study were analyzed using SPSS for windows statistical program
(version 10.0).
Results: The results
showed that scores of Group II were significantly less than scores of
Group I in terms of cardio-vascular endurance and a parameter of
flexibility (trunk extension) (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
To gain weight is an important risk factor regarding healthy life,
especially physical fitness level. These results show that the
overweight subjects are at risk concerning cardiovascular diseases due
to decreased cardiovascular endurance. Therefore, both overweight
subjects and obese subjects should be evaluated using physical fitness
tests in order to describe their physical health profile and to able to
organize the most suitable preventive medical program to improve
quality of life.
Key
words:excess
body weight, cardiovascular
disease, healthy life
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