JOURNAL OF HUMAN KINETICS & HEALTH EDUCATION PEDAGOGY

EFFECTS OF AEROBIC EXERCISE TRAINING ON BODY COMPOSITION OF OBESE AND NORMAL WEIGHT SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the effects of aerobic exercise training on the body composition of obese and normal weight secondary school students in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A true experimental pre-test and post-test design was adopted involving forty students (20 males and 20 females) purposively selected from a private Secondary School, Ado-Ekiti. Participants were classified into obese and normal groups using Body Mass Index (BMI). Both groups were subjected to an eight-week aerobic exercise training programme comprising low-intensity aerobic activities conducted three times weekly for thirty minutes per session. Anthropometric variables measured included stature, body mass, percent body fat, lean body mass, and body density. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including paired and independent t-tests at a 0.05 level of significance. Results indicated significant reductions in body mass and percent body fat, alongside improvements in lean body mass and body density for both obese and normal weight tudents. The study concludes that aerobic exercise training effectively enhances body composition, promotes fitness, and contributes to improved wellbeing among adolescents. It istherefore after this, recommended that structured aerobic programmes be incorporated into school curricula to combat sedentary lifestyles and obesity among Nigerian youth.