Aerobic and Progressive Resistance Exercise Effects on Body Composition of Primary School Children in Ibadan, Nigeria

Aims: The study determined the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (AE) and progressive resistance exercise (PRE) trainings on the body composition measured in terms of percent body fat and body mass index of primary school children in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Study Design: Randomized classic experimental study with a pre, post test and control groups were adopted.
Study Population and Place of Study: The study comprised of 180 primary school children with 7-12 years of age range drawn from both public and private schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. It was conducted in the Exercise Physiology Laboratory and Sports complex of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria from October, 2010 to July, 2011.
Methodology: Systematic random sampling technique was used to assign the participants into AE, PRE experimental groups and control group. Pretest-posttest data were collected using the Large skinfold calliper (model 3003) on seven skinfold sites of chest, triceps, subscapular, axilla, suprailiac, abdomen and thigh; and body mass index. Data were analysed using mean, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Scheffé post hoc test.
Results: Results showed that percent body fat in PRE group had a pre-test and post-test means of 7.21±4.23 and 7.17±4.22 with mean difference of 0.04%, AE group had a pre-test and post-test means of 6.04±3.59 and 7.89±3.85 with mean difference of 1.85%.It also revealed pre-test and post-test means of 14.81±3.29 and 14.80±2.20kg/m2 for BMI in the PRE group with mean difference of 0.01kg/m2, pre-test and post-test means of 15.09±1.66 and 15.66±2.07kg/m2 for BMI in the AE group with mean difference of 0.57kg/m2. It finally exposed that there were significant differences in the effect of the training regimens on body mass index [(F3, 176) =6.365, p<0.05] and that AE enhanced better improvement in percent body fat and body mass index.
Conclusion: The study concluded that for effective achievement of good body composition, AE training should be mostly considered in the training modes of primary school children in Ibadan, Nigeria.