The effects of a jogging program on the body composition of normal & obese high school girls

Abstract

Body composition changes were assessed in forty normal and obese high school girls following participation in a 15 or 29 week physical activity program of walking, jogging and running. The obese group demonstrated significant reductions in body weight and relative fat, and increases in body density and lean body weight. Subcutaneous fat, as assessed by skinfold thickness, decreased markedly. The normal group showed no change in any of the body composition parameters other than skinfold thickness. The significance of these findings is discussed.