Abstract

At entry into a 10 week fitness course height, weight, skinfolds, and girths were measured in 313 women aged 20-72 years. Cross sectional analysis showed a positive relationship between age and fatness (BMI and skinfolds), upper arm, chest, and waist girths; age and hip and thigh girths were unrelated. Approximately half the subjects (the returners) were re-measured 11 or 12 weeks after entry into the course. Diaries kept by 61 subjects indicated that, on average, the returners exercised for 31 minutes daily, varying from 14 minutes daily in the 20 least active to 50 minutes in the 20 most active. Weight did not change for the returners, but there were small reductions in total skinfolds and each girth measurement except for upper arm. Changes in the least and most active groups differed only insofar as the latter declined more in girths at the waist and hip. It was concluded that in females who tend to be overweight (a) exercise alone is only a marginally successful way of improving body shape, and (b) claims by the fitness industry, that exercise can quickly be expected to improve body shape, are not justified. Verf.-Referat