Nebojša Čokorilo1, Goran Prebeg2, Dragan Milić3, Dragan Tomašević3
1Faculty of Sport and Physical Education Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
2Faculty of Sport and Physical Education Belgrade, University of Belgrade, Serbia
3Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of East Sarajevo, B&H
Effects of a Combined 8-Week Group Exercise Program on the Anthropometric Characteristics of Female University Students
J. Anthr. Sport Phys. Educ. 2025, 9(3), 3-8 | DOI: 10.26773/jaspe.250701
Abstract
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.
Keywords
anthropometry, group, exercise program, female students
View full article
(PDF – 104KB)
References
Bjorntorp, P. (1990). Portal adipose tissue as a generator of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Atherosclerosis, 10(4), 493–496.
Sivapathy, S., Chang, C. Y., Chai, W. J., Ang, Y. K., & Yim, H. S. (2013). Assessment of hydration status and body composition of athlete and non-athlete subjects using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Journal of Physical Education & Sport, 13(2), 157–162.
Zombra, Ž. (2018). Differences in body composition between karate athletes and non-athletes. Sport Scientific & Practical Aspects, 15(1), 31–36.
Ortansa, I. E., & Ileana, G. A. (2006). The importance of body composition measurement at athletes and non-athletes. Sports Medicine Journal, 6(2).
Ackland, T. R., Lohman, T. G., Sundgot-Borgen, J., Maughan, R. J., Meyer, N. L., Stewart, A. D., & Müller, W. (2012). Current status of body composition assessment in sport. Sports Medicine, 42(3), 227–249.
Lightfoot, J. T., De Geus, E. J. C., Booth, F. W., Bray, M. S., Den Hoed, M., Kaprio, J., Kelly, S. A., Pomp, D., Saul, M. C., Thomis, M. A., Garland, T., Jr., & Bouchard, C. (2018). Biological/genetic regulation of physical activity level: Consensus from GenBioPAC. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 50(4), 863–873.
DeLany, J. P., Kelley, D. E., Hames, K. C., Jakičić, J. M., & Goodpaster, B. H. (2014). Effect of physical activity on weight loss, energy expenditure and energy intake during diet induced weight loss. Obesity (Silver Spring), 22(2), 363–370.
Eliakim, A., & Beyth, Y. (2003). Exercise training, menstrual irregularities and bone development in children and adolescents. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 16(4), 201–206.
Stasiulis, A., Mockienė, A., Vizbaraitė, D., & Mockus, P. (2010). Aerobic exercise-induced changes in body composition and blood lipids in young women. Medicine, 46(2), 129–134.
Bjelica, B. (2020). Effects of group fitness programs on the body composition of women. FACTA UNIVERSITATIS Series: Physical Education and Sport, 18(2), 345–354.
Špirtović, O., Čaprić, I., Stanković, M., & Jelaska, I. (2024). The effects of step aerobics on anthropometric characteristics transformation and body composition in young females. International Journal of Morphology, 42(5), 1423–1428.
Ndemba, P. B. A., Ayina, C. N., Guessogo, W. R., Ndongo, J. M., Kamnang, R. O. G., Bika Lele, C. E., Mandengue, S. H., Etoundi-Ngoa, L. S., & Temfemo, A. (2020). Effect of a 12-week training program on the anthropometric and physiological profiles of some participants registered in a fitness center in Douala, Cameroon. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 16(4), 369–376.
McArdle, W. D., Katch, F. I., & Katch, V. L. (2014). Exercise physiology: Nutrition, energy, and human performance (8th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Baechle, T. R., & Earle, R. W. (2008). Essentials of strength training and conditioning (3rd ed.). Human Kinetics.
Pollock, M. L., Franklin, B. A., Balady, G. J., Chaitman, B. L., & Fleg, J. L. (2000). Resistance exercise in individuals with and without cardiovascular disease: Benefits, rationale, safety, and prescription. Circulation, 101(6), 828–833.
Pescatello, L. S., Franklin, B. A., Fagard, R., Farquhar, W. B., Kelley, G. A., Ray, C. A., & American College of Sports Medicine. (2004). American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and hypertension. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36(3), 533–553.
Lim, J. S., Hwang, H. J., Eum, Y. H., Kim, H. J., Cheung, B., Oh, H. J., & Oh, B. (2024). Anthropometric changes in female participants enrolled in a combined aerobic and resistance training program for longer than 1 year: A cohort study. Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome, 33(4), 367–373.
Adebero, A. (2019). Effects of combined exercise programme on selected anthropometric and physiological parameters of pre-retirement age women in University of Lagos. Nigerian Journal of Sports Science and Health, 21(3), 45–53.
Gilyana, M., Batrakoulis, A., Goulis, D. G., Symeonidou, K., Al-Mhanna, S. B., & Kouidi, E. (2024). The effects of a multi-component exercise program and bariatric surgery on anthropometric characteristics and physical function in patients with obesity. Annals of Applied Sport Science, 12(4), 0–0.
Pugliese, L., Tuccella, C., Maisto, G., D’Angelo, E., Delle Monache, S., Scatigna, M., Rodrigues Moreira, M. H., Bonavolontà, V., & Vinciguerra, M. G. (2025). The effects of a 24-week combined circuit training and mobility program on the physical fitness and body composition of an adult academic community. Sports, 13(3), 79.
Weiner, J. S., & Lourie, J. A. (1996). Human biology: A guide to field methods. Burgess and Son Press.
Beleigoli, A., Andrade, A., Diniz, M., Alvares, R., Ferreira, M., Silva, L., Rodrigues, M., Jacomassi, L., Cerqueira, A., & Ribeiro, A. (2019). Validation of anthropometric measures self-reported in a randomized controlled trial of a web-based platform for weight loss. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 266, 30–36.
Đurašković, R. (2001). Biologija razvoja čoveka sa medicinom sporta – Praktikum. S.I.I.C.
Rebato, E., Salcez, I., Martin, L. S., & Rosique, J. (1998). Fat distribution in relation to sex and socioeconomic status in children 4–19 years. American Journal of Human Biology, 10(6), 799–806.
Lohman, T. G., Roche, A. F., & Martorell, R. (1988). Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual. Human Kinetics.
Garber, C. E., Blissmer, B., Deschenes, M. R., Franklin, B. A., Lamonte, M. J., Lee, I. M, Swain, D. P. (2011). American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: Guidance for prescribing exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(7), 1334–1359.
Casadei, K., & Kiel, J. (2022). Anthropometric measurement. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.
Shen, W., Punyanitya, M., Chen, J., Gallagher, D., Albu, J., Pi-Sunyer, X., Lewis, C. E., Grunfeld, C., Heshka, S., & Heymsfield, S. B. (2006). Waist circumference correlates with metabolic syndrome indicators better than percentage fat. Obesity (Silver Spring), 14(4), 727–736.
Wang, Y., Yang, X., Deng, J., Wang, Z., Yang, D., Han, Y., & Wang, H. (2024). Combined high-intensity interval and resistance training improves cardiorespiratory fitness more than high-intensity interval training in young women with overweight/obesity: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Endocrinology (Lausanne), 15, 1450944.
Wang, L., Zheng, H., Wang, T., & Wei, X. (2023). Impacts of muscle training loads on college students' physical fitness. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 29(2).
Zhou, H., & Hazel, D. (2024). The effect of aerobic exercise among obese college students: Towards an intervention program. International Journal of Education and Humanities, 14(2), 198–203.
Smeuninx, B., & McKendry, J. (2016). Mechanisms of resistance exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy: 'You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs'. Journal of Physiology, 594(24), 7159–7160.
Reilly, J. J., Wilson, J., & Durnin, J. V. (1995). Determination of body composition from skinfold thickness: A validation study. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 73(4), 305–310.
Duggleby, S. L., Jackson, A. A., Godfrey, K. M., Robinson, S. M., & Inskip, H. M. (2009). Cut-off points for anthropometric indices of adiposity: Differential classification in a large population of young women. British Journal of Nutrition, 101(3), 424–430.
Gentil, P., Soares, S., & Bottaro, M. (2013). Effects of adding single-joint exercises to a multi-joint exercise resistance-training program on strength and hypertrophy in untrained subjects. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 34(4), 341–344.
Beak, H. J., Park, W., Yang, J. H., & Kim, J. (2022). Effect of low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction on body composition, physical fitness, and vascular responses in recreational runners. Healthcare (Basel), 10(9), 1789.
O’Connor, T. E., & Lamb, K. L. (2003). The effects of Bodymax high-repetition resistance training on measures of body composition and muscular strength in active adult women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 17(3), 614–620.
Ha, C. H., & So, W. Y. (2012). Effects of combined exercise training on body composition and metabolic syndrome factors. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 41(8), 20–26.
Melanson, E. L., MacLean, P. S., & Hill, J. O. (2009). Exercise improves fat metabolism in muscle but does not increase 24-h fat oxidation. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 37(2), 93–101