Effects of a step training program on anthropometric and body composition variables of female college students

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of a step training program on the anthropometric and body composition variables of female college students. The subjects were 24 female undergraduate students, aged 18 - 25 years, and enrolled on a regular PE 100 class. Stature and body mass, circumferences (forearm, extended and fl exed arm, abdomen at umbilicus and waist level, buttock, thigh and calf); skinfolds (subescapular, triceps, biceps, chest, axillary, vertical abdomen, iliac-oblique, thigh and calf); sum of trunk skinfolds (total trunk, upper and lower trunk skinfolds); limbs skinfolds (upper and lower limb skinfolds) and total sum of skinfolds. Body density and % fat were estimated accordingly to equations published by Petroski (1995) and Siri (1961), respectively. Subjects were evaluated before and after 20 step training classes that met twice a week, lasting about 45 minutes each. Effort intensity was controlled by means of heart rate. Descriptive statistics and Student’s t test for dependent samples were used for data interpretation. It was concluded that step training signifi cantly promoted reduction (p < 0.05) of fi ve body circumferences, three skinfolds, regional and total skinfold sums and also % body fat and fat mass.