The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among obesity, physical activity level, physical fitness and academic performance among female secondary school students in Shah Alam. Two hundred and fourteen participants (age: 16 years, body height: 156.76 ± 5.65 cm, body mass 59.92 ± 13.35 kg, BMI: 24.41 ± 5.00 kg/m2) participated in this study. Students with a body mass index above 25 kg/m2 were classified as obese. Physical activity level was evaluated by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), while physical fitness was evaluated by the total score of four fitness components (cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility) measured by SEGAK used in Malaysia secondary schools. Academic performance was assessed by the Average School Grade (ASG) from the Form Three Assessment (PT3) results of the previous year. There was a negative significant relationship between obesity and physical activity level (r = -0.20, p < 0.05), obesity and physical fitness (r = -0.42, p < 0.05), obesity and academic performance (r = 0.49, p < 0.05), physical activity level and physical fitness (r = 0.54, p < 0.05), physical activity level and academic performance (r = -0.14, p < 0.05). and physical fitness and academic performance (r = -0.26, p < 0.05). These results suggested that obesity status, physical activity level and physical fitness could not only affect health status but also academic performance in secondary school students.
Background: Obesity is major contributor to diseases and mortality. Constant weight loss significantly reverses diseases related to obesity and helps prolong human life expectancy. To date, there has been limited scientific evidence comparing the effectiveness of the Aqua Zumba® Fitness program and conventional aqua jog among obese women. Thus, the purpose of this study is to compare the effects between 12 weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness and aqua jog on health parameters among middle-age women. Methods: A total of sixty sedentary obese women (BMI >30 kg/m2), aged 40-59 years old were randomized to either Aqua Zumba® Fitness (AZ, n=20), aqua jog (AJ, n=20) or control group (C, n=20). Exercise groups were involved in different 12-week aqua exercise programs, 3 times per week, 60 minutes per session, with an intensity of 50-75% of maximum heart rate. Body mass (BM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference (WC), upper and lower body strength (UBS and LBS), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and flexibility were measured at baseline (week-0) and post-exercise intervention (week-13). Result: The AZ group demonstrated significant changes (p
Background: Obesity is major contributor to diseases and mortality. Constant
weight loss significantly reverses diseases related to obesity and helps
prolong human life expectancy. To date, there has been limited scientific
evidence comparing the effectiveness of the Aqua Zumba® Fitness program
and conventional aqua jog among obese women. Thus, the purpose of this
study is to compare the effects between 12 weeks of Aqua Zumba® Fitness
and aqua jog on health parameters among middle-age women. Methods: A
total of sixty sedentary obese women (BMI >30 kg/m2), aged 40-59 years old
were randomized to either Aqua Zumba® Fitness (AZ, n=20), aqua jog (AJ,
n=20) or control group (C, n=20). Exercise groups were involved in different
12-week aqua exercise programs, 3 times per week, 60 minutes per session,
with an intensity of 50-75% of maximum heart rate. Body mass (BM),
skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat percentage (BF%), waist
circumference (WC), upper and lower body strength (UBS and LBS),
cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and flexibility were measured at baseline
(week-0) and post-exercise intervention (week-13). Result: The AZ group
demonstrated significant changes (p