Effectiveness Of Aerobic Exercise On Body Mass Index Among Female Medical Students In A Private Medical College.

BACKGROUND: An interventional study conducted among female medical students from 3rd to 7th semester at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. OBJECTIVES: The aims were to assess the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (Zumba) on Body Mass Index among female medical students and to compare the effect of Zumba program with Zumba and diet modification on BMI and weight. METHODS: A self-administered, validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form were used and anthropometric measurements were measured. The subjects were divided into 2 groups (47 in each group). Both groups (Z and ZD) did Zumba program for 7 weeks. ZD group followed a healthy diet program along with Zumba. RESULTS: After 7 weeks intervention, there was significant effectiveness of Zumba on BMI among the participants. In the Z group, significant difference was seen in weight and BMI after intervention. Mean weight had reduced from 65.02±9.33 to 62.99±9.18 with p-value <0.001. Also the BMI has been reduced from 26.39±3.47 to 25.29±3.64. Though the change in anthropometric parameters was higher in ‘ZD’ group, no statistically significant difference was noticed. This indicates that dietary modification and follow-up could be done even in a better way with a larger sample size. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that regular physical activity along with healthy diet helps in improving the body weight and BMI. Intervention programs would be required to enhance nutritional education, encourage people to adopt healthy eating behavior, making healthy food choices and engage in physical activity, thereby reduces risk to chronic diseases and improve their lifestyle.