EFFECT OF CARDIO EXERCISE PROGRAM ON PERCENTAGE OF FAT AND MUSCLE MASS OF NURSING STUDENTS
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Abstract
This research article aims to: 1) study the effects of a 12-week cardio exercise program on body fat percentage and muscle mass in female nursing students; 2) compare body fat percentage and muscle mass values before and after participating in the program; and 3) compare the differences between the experimental and control groups after the end of the experiment.
The research was quasi-experimental. The sample consisted of 40 female nursing students from Northern College, divided into an experimental group and a control group, each with 20 participants. The experimental group participated in a 12-week cardio program, three times a week for 60 minutes each time. The control group lived their normal lives. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests.
The research findings show that
1) The experimental group's body fat percentage significantly decreased from 36.86% to 34.71% at a statistical significance level of .05, while the control group's body fat percentage increased from 34.68% to 36.21%.
2) The experimental group significantly increased muscle mass from 22.68 kilograms to 23.83 kilograms at a statistical significance level of .05, while the control group showed no statistically significant difference, and
3) Comparison results between groups showed that the average percentage of body fat differed significantly (p < .05), but no difference was found in muscle mass.
In conclusion, the cardio program is effective in reducing body fat and helping female nursing students maintain muscle mass, making it suitable for application in health promotion activities for youth and healthcare professionals.
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References
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