EFFECT OF LOW-IMPACT AEROBIC DANCE AND ZUMBA EXERCISES ON BODY FAT PERCENTAGE IN OBESE WOMEN

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of low-impact aerobic dance and zumba exercises in reducing the percentage of body fat in obese women in terms of the Body Mass Index (BMI). Forty obese women (mean age 33.9±7.1 years) were selected and divided into two experimental groups, namely: low-impact aerobic dance (n=20) and zumba (n=20). The participants were also divided based on the BMI which gave the mild and severe obesity groups. The research instrument was a skinfold caliper which was used to measure the thickness of the body fat. The experiment was carried out 3 times a week for 8 weeks and the participants from both groups performed exercises for a duration of 60 minutes. The analysis of data between the experimental groups showed that there were significant differences between these exercises (r=0.005; p<0.05), the levels of obesity (r=0,000; p<0.05), and there were interactions between the exercises and the levels of obesity (r=0,000; p<0,05), from the pre-test to the post-test. The results showed that low-impact aerobic dance was more effectively used in reducing the percentage of body fat in obese women at the severe levels while zumba was effectively used in reducing the percentage of body fat in obese women with mild obesity, therefore the two exercises had an influence in reducing the percentage of body fat.