Effects of 8-Week Jogging Training on Body Composition of Obese and Non-Obese Students in Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare Bauchi State Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed effects of 8-week jogging training on body composition of obese and non- obese students in Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare Bauchi State Nigeria. Repeated measure design using one group repeated trials research design was adopted for this study. The population for this study comprised of one thousand five hundred and seventy (2570) male and female students where 80 students were selected using the purposive sampling. The participants were assigned to two experimental groups of 40 obese and non–obese male and female students, each group exposed to 8-week jogging between the hours of 4:30pm to 5:45pm on alternate days (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). The training session consist of three components which were, 10 minutes of warm – up, 45 minutes of jogging session and 10 minutes of cool down. Descriptive statistics of mean standard deviation and standard error of means was used to analyse the body composition variables. The repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyse the data to determine the effect of jogging on the participants’ body composition and independent t-test was used to analyse the data for gender to the alpha level of significance p< 0.05 was used to accept or reject the null hypotheses. It is concluded among others that,, there are specific gender differences in response to jogging. The eight (8) weeks jogging did not produce significant effect on %BF of female, and BMI (male and female). It was recommended among others that, regular assessment of physical fitness status of youths in Nigerian schools by exercise Scientist should be emphasized so as to be able to prescribe exercise programmes to meet children’s fitness needs and standard. Obese youths should be exposed to physical activities to improve their well-being and alleviate obesity complications.