Effects of Structured Step Aerobics Combined with Psycho-Social Coping on Body Mass Index and Perceived Stress among Overweight Female Undergraduates in Zaria, Nigeria

Being physically inactive, having too much body weight, as well as psychological stress is common among female university students in Northern Nigeria with limited controlled trials that have investigated integrated exercise and coping interventions in this population. This study assessed the effect of an eight-week structured step aerobics programme combined with weekly psycho-social coping sessions on body mass index (BMI) and perceived stress among overweight female undergraduates of the Federal University of Education (FUE), Zaria. Eighty sedentary female undergraduates (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m²; Perceived Stress Scale-10 [PSS-10] score ≥ 20) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (three 45-minute step aerobics sessions and one 60-minute coping seminar weekly) or a usual-routine control group (n = 40 each). BMI was calculated from weight and height measured with calibrated instruments, and perceived stress was measured with the PSS-10. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate ANCOVA (MANCOVA) were used at α = .05. Seventy-five participants (93.8%) completed the trial. After adjustment for pre-test scores, the experimental group had a lower BMI (adjusted M = 26.39 vs. 27.20 kg/m²; F(1, 72) = 46.09, p < .001, partial η² = .39) and lower perceived stress (adjusted M = 18.88 vs. 24.40; F(1, 72) = 35.23, p < .001, partial η² = .33) than the control group, and the multivariate effect of group on the combined outcomes was significant (Wilks’ Λ = .48, p < .001). The combined programme was associated with significant reductions in BMI and perceived stress relative to the usual-routine control; the contributions of the two components cannot be separated. Supervised, female-only, indoor exercise-and-coping programmes merit consideration in university wellness services in similar settings.