Abstract

We evaluated 892 men and 470 women before and after an eight-week starter fitness program by a test battery designed by the YMCAs of Amerika. The study showed significant increases in V02 max, flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance, and decreases in body weight and fat. Improvement in fitness was related to attendance, and compliance to the program and testing battery was approximately 75 for both men and women. Only heavier initial body weight was associated with a greater dropout rate. Requiring attendance for reimbursement and having the participant take partial responsibility for payment positively affected attendance. There were no differences between men and women in improvement, attendance, and attrition from the program. Verf.-Referat