The Effect of Exercise Programs on Physical Literacy and Body Composition of Overweight and Obese Elementary School Girls

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Physical Education, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of physical Education and Sport Sciences, Peyame Noor University,Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/mmbj.2025.67865.1200

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of an exercise program on physical literacy and body composition in overweight and obese elementary school girls in Dehaghan. In this study, 30 girls aged 7 to 12 years with overweight and obesity were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group participated in an exercise program for eight weeks, with one 60-minute session per week. Before and after the intervention, participants completed a physical literacy questionnaire, and body composition indices, including height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and fat-free mass percentage, were measured. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and dependent t-test with a significance level of P≤0.05. The results showed that the exercise program significantly increased the students’ physical literacy and improved body composition indices; specifically, weight, BMI, and body fat percentage decreased significantly, while fat-free mass percentage increased. These findings indicate that physical exercise can play an important role in enhancing physical literacy and improving the physical condition of overweight and obese girls. Increasing physical literacy can facilitate greater participation in physical activities and promote children's health.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Mind, Movement, and Behavior
Volume 4, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
November 2025
Pages 120-138

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 June 2025
  • Revise Date: 28 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 09 November 2025

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