Cardiovascular effects, body composition, quality of life and pain after a Zumba® fitness program in Italian overweight women

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper was to investigate the cardiovascular effects, body composition, quality of life and pain after a 12-week Zumba® fitness program in a group of overweight women through an observational study, community physical activity program involving twenty-seven overweight women (38.9±9.7 years). METHODS: Cardiometabolic profile, body composition, quality of life and pain were assessed after a 12-week Zumba® fitness program. RESULTS: Significant improvements in body weight and BMI (71.5 vs. 74.2 kg, 28.02 vs. 29.1 kg/m2), in circumferences (arm: 27.9 vs. 30.3, waist: 80.1 vs. 83.9, hip: 102 vs. 107.4 cm), in fat and muscular mass (25.2 vs. 26.9, 34.4 vs. 27.2 kg), in intracellular (19 vs. 17.5 kg), and in extracellular water (14.9 vs. 16.8 kg) were recorded. A decrease in blood pressure was observed (118.3/69.4 vs. 125/75.5 mmHg). Cardiovascular response to the maximal exercise test showed a decrease in heart rate and in systolic blood pressure with an increase of work (118.9 vs. 116.7 watt). SF-36 showed variations in physical functioning (99.4 vs. 92.8) and in the limitation on the emotional role (88.9 vs. 66.6). With regards the Brief Pain Inventory-SF, a decrease in pain severity and pain interference score was seen (0.5 vs. 1.6, 0.06 vs. 0.5) CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that Zumba® fitness can be an effective way to obtain beneficial health effects and that it can also be recommended for overweight women.