PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a group walking exercise program on body composition, blood lipids and psychological factors at a community. METHOD: The subjects were 200 women(29 groups) who agreed to participate in group walking exercise for three months. Their ages ranged between 30 to 77 years. A simple walking exercise protocol was given to the participants, which was to do walking over three times a week and over thirty minutes each time. We compared the participants' body composition (BMI, PBF, BFM, FFM, WHR and VFA), blood lipids (HDL C, LDL C, total cholesterol, triglyceride) and exercise-self efficacy, self esteem, and quality of life before and after group walking. Collected data were analyzed through paired t test using the SAS program. RESULT: BMI. PBF, BFM, WHR, and VFA were significantly reduced (p<.01). However. FFM did not increase significantly (p=.416). There were significant changes in TC and TG (p<.01) but not in LDL C (P=.340). HDL C decreased but within the normal range. Exercise-self efficacy and quality of life did not increase significantly. Only self esteem increased significantly (p<.0001). CONCLUSION: Group walking exercise had positive effects on body composition, blood lipid and self esteem in community women.
Body Composition* ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Psychology* ; Quality of Life ; Reference Values ; Self Concept ; Self Efficacy ; Walking*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of an overweight control exercise program on body composition and blood lipids. METHOD: This comparative study was conducted at an elementary school in Seoul, Korea. Pre and post body weight, BMI, PBF, and obesity degree as body composition and TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG as blood lipids were tested. The aerobic exercise lasted 12 weeks from April to July, 2006. A total of 168 overweight 3rd grade to 5th grade school children attended and were divided into a walking exercise group (n=68) and a rope jumping exercise group (n=38). Data were analysed using SAS 8.12. RESULT: At the end of the program, the participation rate was higher in the rope jumping exercise group than in the walking exercise group. Body weight, BMI, PBF, obesity degree, TC, and LDL-C were lower than those before the program, and HDL-C was higher than before the program. CONCLUSION: The school-based overweight control exercise program was effective. Because of the participation rate was higher in the rope jumping exercise group than in the walking exercise group, rope jumping exercise is recommended for low grade children.
Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Child ; Exercise ; Humans ; Korea ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Seoul ; Walking