Effects of different types of exercises on body composition in young men and women

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different types of exercises on body composition in young men and women. Thirty-seven physical education and sports college students participated in the study voluntarily. Height, body weight, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio measurements were held. Skinfold measurement taken from seven sites was conducted by a caliper and percent body fat values were calculated by using the Siri equation. After completing the pre-test measurements, the subjects were randomly assigned into one of these groups: aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and combined (both aerobic and resistance). At the end of the 10-week training period, paired t-test results showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the aerobic exercise and combined exercise group subjects' body weight, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, % body fat, and skinfold measurements. In the resistance exercise group, while there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the % body fat, skinfold, and waist-to-hip ratio values, changes in the body weight and body mass index were not significant (p>0.05). ANOVA test results revealed no significant differences among the exercise groups on body compositions. These results showed that aerobic and combined exercises had a decremental influence on the body weight, body mass index, % body fat, skinfold, and waist-to-hip ratio values. Resistance exercises showed an influence on decreasing % body fat rather than decreasing body weight.