Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise intervention, including dumbbell(weight lifting), walking, and yoga, on the body composition, physiologic factors, body image, and perceived health in the community-dwelling women.
METHOD
This study utilized pretest-posttest design with three types of exercise interventions. The types of exercise intervention included dumbbell, walking, and yoga.
RESULTS
A total of 136 subjects were included: 49 for dumbbell, 67 for walking, and 20 for yoga. As measures of body composition, BMI, body weight, and body fat rate were significantly improved only after dumbbell intervention(p<.01). Systolic blood pressures were significantly decreased in the groups of dumbbell and walking. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly declined only in the walking group. Vital capacities and body image were improved in all groups(p<.01). However, total cholesterol levels were not improved in all groups(p>.05) and none of the measures for perceived health state were not significantly changed in all groups(p>.05).
CONCLUSION
From the findings of this study, it was demonstrated that the effects of exercise interventions were differentiated by their types and variables to be affected. Therefore, future studies that apply the tailored exercise intervention to each age-categorical group are needed.

• Keywords: Exercise; Body composition; Physiologic factors; Body image; Perceived health state