2024, Vol. 11, Issue 1, Part D

Thinkers such as Dr. Kenneth Cooper well aware of the sedentary nature of people, especially women, who are victims of obesity have set out ways and means to provide a solution. They encourage people to enjoy and practice physical activity through a rhythmic music called aerobics.

Today, there is a proliferation of fitness centers in Senegal. There is a large female clientele. Some want to lose weight and improve their physical condition. Others go to the gyms to keep their figure.

VO2 max and resting heart rate are among some objective criteria to assess physical fitness. However, we found no studies reporting positive effects of aerobics on body composition and cardiorespiratory variables in sedentary Senegalese women.

Objective: To study the effects of a 2-month aerobics program on the weight, body mass index, resting heart rate, blood pressure and VO2 max of sedentary Senegalese women aged between 20 and 50.

Methods: The above variables in 12 sedentary Senegalese women aged 20-50 years were assessed before and after a 2-month aerobics program consisting of 3 one-hour sessions per week.

Results: After 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, among all the parameters studied, the VO2 max, was the only one that underwent a slight reduction which is not statistically significant.

Conclusion: 3 weekly one-hour aerobics sessions over 2 months would appear to be insufficient to significantly modify these variables in sedentary Senegalese women aged 20 to 50.