J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2006 Mar;17(1):38-45.

The Effects of Group Walking Exercise Program on Body Composition, Blood Lipids and Psychological Factors

• Go YA
• Baek HC
• Hwang IY

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a group walking exercise program on body composition, blood lipids and psychological factors at a community. METHOD: The subjects were 200 women(29 groups) who agreed to participate in group walking exercise for three months. Their ages ranged between 30 to 77 years. A simple walking exercise protocol was given to the participants, which was to do walking over three times a week and over thirty minutes each time. We compared the participants' body composition (BMI, PBF, BFM, FFM, WHR and VFA), blood lipids (HDL C, LDL C, total cholesterol, triglyceride) and exercise-self efficacy, self esteem, and quality of life before and after group walking. Collected data were analyzed through paired t test using the SAS program. RESULT: BMI. PBF, BFM, WHR, and VFA were significantly reduced (p<.01). However. FFM did not increase significantly (p=.416). There were significant changes in TC and TG (p<.01) but not in LDL C (P=.340). HDL C decreased but within the normal range. Exercise-self efficacy and quality of life did not increase significantly. Only self esteem increased significantly (p<.0001).
CONCLUSION
Group walking exercise had positive effects on body composition, blood lipid and self esteem in community women.

Keyword

Walking; Body composition; Blood lipids; Psychological factors

MeSH Terms

Body Composition*
Cholesterol
Female
Humans
Psychology*
Quality of Life
Reference Values
Self Concept
Self Efficacy
Walking*
Cholesterol