Assessment of changes in somatic characteristics based on the level of physical activity in women who undertook weight reduction course.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a chronic disease in modern age and finding approach to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of obesity has its place among the priorities of modern medicine and related fields. Important component in programmes to reduce overweight and obesity is regular physical activity (PA), which plays vital role in the comprehensive approach to the treatment of obesity. Primary objective of our study was to assess changes in somatic characteristics following eleven weeks of PA in overweight and obese women aged 30 to 60 years. METHODS: Our research sample consisted of 221 women who were classified according to the level of PA carried out, namely 1st, 2nd and 3rd category. STOB (STop OBesity) course participants underwent PA monitoring and diagnosis of the body composition, which is a modern multifaceted cognitive behavioural method. RESULTS: Younger highly active women (PA 3) achieved higher average differences in body fat than did women with the typical daily activity (PA 1), however, significant differences have not been found. Statistically significant differences in visceral fat between the 1st (PA 1) and 3rd PA category (PA 3) have been observed in older women. CONCLUSION: Given the significantly higher increase of fat-free mass percentage in older highly active women (PA 3), we may assess the course results positively. Our study demonstrated positive correlation between carrying out the recommended level of PA and its impact on the body composition's health risk indicators. Obese women should walk at least 10,000 steps per day to improve their health.

The level of neighborhood walkability in a place of residence and its effect on body composition in obese and overweight women.

A neighborhood environment allows defining typical features for physically active or inactive lifestyle. An accelerated pace of life and higher availability of an unhealthy lifestyle increase obesity rates. An analysis of body composition can be used as a predictor for assessment of current somatic conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the dependence of selected body composition parameters on neighborhood walkability in 167 women aged 20-60 years attending weight-loss programme called STOB-courses. A multifrequency bioimpedance analysis InBody 720 was used to determine the body composition of respondents. Further, ANEWS questionnaire was used to determine the level of neighborhood walkability. We divided the sample into two age groups (<40 years; >40 years) and into partial subgroups according to the neighborhood "level of walkability" (lower and higher level). Based on the assessment of body composition, it can be assumed more walkable neighborhood opportunities positively affect body composition. Body composition in older women is positively influenced if they lived in high walkable areas. In younger women we found only one indicator of body composition (body fat mass) influenced by neighborhood walkability. The relationship between health indicators of body composition and residential infrastructure might be useful in strategies aimed at maintaining and developing a healthy lifestyle within the community.