Effect of Calisthenics Exercise on Body Composition Indices of Married Females in North-Central Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Obesity and central adiposity are major health concerns among married women in Nigeria, especially in the North-Central region where sedentary lifestyles, limited fitness access, cultural expectations, and time constraints contribute to poor body composition. Calisthenics Exercise offers a practical and affordable solution for women who cannot access structured fitness facilities, helping reduce fat mass and improve key indices such as BMI, WC, and WHR. Despite its potential, evidence of the effectiveness of such programmes in this region is limited. This study examined the Effect of Calisthenics Exercise on Body Composition Indices of Married Females in the North-Central Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria. The study used a true experimental pre-test/post-test design with 444 participants from North-Central Nigeria. The experimental group completed a 12-week calisthenics exercise programme, while the control group remained inactive. BMI, waist circumference, and waist–hip ratio were measured before and after the intervention to determine its impact. Demographic data were analyzed using frequency and percentage, research questions were addressed with mean and standard deviation, and hypotheses were tested using ANOVA. The results showed notable improvements following the intervention. BMI reduced from an obese-class baseline mean of 32.21 kg/m² to 30.72 kg/m², representing a 4.63% reduction. WC improved substantially, decreasing by 18.01% from 126.89 cm to 103.94 cm. Similarly, WHR showed a 2.22% reduction, from 0.91 to 0.88. Three-way ANOVA results revealed a significant within-subject effect of the exercise on BMI, F(1) = 140.879, p < 0.001. WC showed a significant main effect of the intervention, F(1) = 5.649, p < 0.018, and significant group differences, F(1) = 6.282, p < 0.022. WHR demonstrated significant improvements, with notable main and interaction effects across groups and states, F(1) = 88.073, p < 0.001; F(4, 280) = 2.102, p < 0.049, respectively. The findings indicate that calisthenics exercise is effective in improving body composition indices among married women. The significant reductions in BMI, WC, and WHR highlight the potential of accessible, low-cost calisthenics interventions for addressing obesity-related health risks in Nigerian women.