Effects of a Combined 8-Week Group Exercise Program on the Anthropometric Characteristics of Female University Students

The aim of this study was to analyse effects of a combined 8-week group exercise program on the anthropometric characteristics of female university students. Fifty two first year female students from the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Novi Sad were divided into two groups: experimental (N=27, 20.43±1.12years, 21.75±3.32 kg/m2) and control group (N= 25, 20.91±1.76years, 20.91±2.93 kg/m2). Experimental group attended 8 weeks of supervised additional exepriemntal program while the control group did not do any aditional physical activity. Over a 8-week period, changes in anthropometric characteristics were carefully monitored through thirteen measures with the Martin antropometer; bioelectrical impedance OMFRON BF 511, Gulick Anthropometric Tape and John Bull calliper. MANOVA and ANOVA were used to determine differences among groups before and after the experimental program. Primary findings of this study indicate that the combined group exercise intervention produced significant improvements in the female students’ anthropometric characteristics. Specifically, increases were observed in calf circumference (p = 0.05), biceps skinfold thickness (p = 0.001), triceps skinfold thickness (p= 0.001), forearm skinfold thickness (p = 0.001), subscapular skinfold thickness (p = 0.03), and abdominal skinfold thickness (p = 0.001) These results highlight the positive contribution and significance of the group fitness program in transforming anthropometric characteristics among female students.