E.V. Egorycheva
Volga Polytechnic Institute (branch) of Volgograd State Technical University, Volzhskiy

Key words: weight deficit, female students, physical education classes.

Introduction. Studies in recent years show that in some universities up to 30-40% of all full-time students have a body mass deviation from the accepted norm [4, p. 4].

Despite the fact that body weight is one of the main indicators of human physical development, this important factor is practically disregarded in modern techniques of physical training in domestic universities. When organizing classes with students with weight deficit, it is important to consider whether the levels of physical development, physical and functional fitness are the same.

Materials and methods. 72 out of the 189 examined female and 205 male first-year students of Volga Polytechnic Institute were proved to have the body mass deviation towards weight deficit. Among those 72 students there were 37 males (51.4% of the sampling) and 35 females (48.6%). We kept record of the indices of physical development, physical and functional fitness in all the students with weight deficit.

Physical development was evaluated by measuring: body length (using stadiometer); body mass (using TANITA BС-540 body composition analyzer); chest circumference (CC) and body parts circumference (using measuring tape); body fat thickness (using caliper); general forced expiratory flow (using loading spirometer) (GFEF). Basing on the obtained data, we calculated the following parameters: absolute and percentage fat and muscular tissue mass (by Ya. Mateyko’s formulas); body-weight index (by Kettle’s formula); chest proportion index (Erismann index); vital lung capacity (by VLC formula (ml) = GFEF (%) x VLC norm (ml) / 100) [7, p. 174].

Physical fitness indices were detected in the tests: body bending depth from a standing position; pull-ups; benchpress; leg press; DC-500 torso dynamometer pull; BS – D706 manual dynamometer press; 3Х10-m shuttle run; 1000 m run [7, p. 174].

Functional fitness indices were determined by measuring: heart rate at rest (palpatory); blood pressure (BP) (using M2Eco OMRON blood pressure sensor) automatic meter; timed inspiratory capacity (Stange’s test); timed expiratory capacity (Genche’s test); walk test (by V.L. Karpman, Z.B. Belotserkovsky); Ruffier test. Proceeding from the obtained data, birth-death ratio and health level were calculated by G.L. Apanasenko [7, p. 174]. All the indices were subject to statistical analysis.

Results and discussion. The table contains the statistics of the indices of physical development of female students with weight deficit.

Table 1. Statistical characteristics of indices of physical development of female students with weight deficit (n = 35)

So, mean body length, or body height of the testees, equaled 164.18 cm, which corresponds to the mean statistical value of Russian females, as according to the data obtained in numerous researches it amounts to164 cm.

With this body height, body mass of females aged 17-19 years should be in the range of 64 kg (Brock-Brugsch index). If however the body mass norm is determined based on their constitutional type, and in our case out of 35 females 34 were of asthenic type, then for such female students it equals 53.56 kg [5, p. 38]. That is, if body height of the examined female students is within the statistically mean range, then their body mass is below the average level.

However, the mean body mass of the given female contingent amounted to 49.76 kg. In other words, their mean body mass was lower than the norm by 3.80 kg or 7.1%. With that, individual fluctuations range from the norm in the examined students was estimated at from 4.2 to 9.0 kg.

Accordingly, Kettle’s body-weight index of the examined group of females differs from the norm. Thus, 325-375 g/cm is taken as the index norm for females aged 17-19 years [1]. In our case, the mean body-weight index was equal to 302.77 g/cm.

Chest circumference (CC) was below the normal range, too. While the norm for CC of 17-19-year-old females who are 164-165 cm high is 84.9 cm [5, p. 39], the mean value of this indicator in our testees is lower by 4.03 cm or 4.8%.

The fact that most females with weight deficit have an underdeveloped chest is also proved by the negative Erismann index – -1.22 cm. The norm for this index should be positive [7, p. 57]. Although, it is hard to be certain on this indicator, since the coefficient of variation (V) is very high in this case – 279.5 %, which means a greater variability of this indicator.

Mean percentage fat tissue mass of female students equaled 18.32%. Taking into account that the norm of this index for females under 20 years ranges between 14 and 21% of fat tissue [2, p. 12], i.e. the obtained research result is within this range, it can be stated that weight deficit of the given contingent does not depend on the fat tissue deficit.

At the same time, percentage muscular tissue mass of females with weight deficit is actually lower than the accepted norm. Thus, in the examined group of female students the mean percentage muscular tissue mass amounted to 27.85%. While the minimal acceptable limit for this index for females under 20 is 30.0% [2, p. 14].

Therefore, it is arguable that muscular tissue deficit is the main factor determining weight deficit of the examined female students aged 17-19 years.

Mean vital lung capacity (VLC) of 17-19-year-old females who are 164.18 cm high and weigh 49.76 kg should be 3264 ml. In fact, this index turned out to be much lower - 2195.63 ml, which is 32.75% lower than the necessary VLC for the given group of the examined females.

Table 2 represents the statistical characteristics of the physical fitness indices of these female students with weight deficit.

Table 2. Statistical characteristics of physical fitness indices of female students with weight deficit (n = 35)

Indeed, despite the asthenic bodybuild and weight deficit, the body bending depth index in the given category of female students, which characterizes their flexibility, is 8.49 cm. Which corresponds to the low level of development of this physical capacity in females aged 17-20 years, as the level threshold value is 10.0 cm [8, p.100].

This also holds true for the 500-m run mean result. Thus, in female students with weight deficit it equals 272.53 sec, i.e. 4 minutes 32.54 seconds, which also corresponds to the low level of development of endurance [8, p. 100].

Reverse trend is observed in the 3Х10 m shuttle run performance. Females with weight deficit demonstrated 9.24 sec on the average, which corresponds to the average level of development of coordination abilities, which ranges between 9.5-8.3 sec [8, p. 100].

Dynamometry of the strongest hand in females should be 48-50% of their body mass on the average [3, p. 47]. Taking into account that mean body mass of the testees was 49.76 kg, their dynamometry should have ranged between 23.9-24.9 kg. In fact, the results turned out to be slightly better. Thus, the mean right hand dynamometry was equal to 27.96 kg, left hand - 25.67 kg. That is, weight deficit, and especially muscle mass deficit, did not influence the results of hand dynamometry. As is generally known, hand flexor muscles work in the static mode of contraction when doing the given test.

Deadlift dynamometry, which characterizes mainly the static force of the body and leg extensor muscles, in female students with weight deficit is on the average 60.40 kg. According to the experts, the threshold value of the low level of development of strength of the mentioned muscles is 125% of the sole weight. In our case, deadlift dynamometry in the examined females equaled 121.4%, being slightly lower than the indices taken as the norm limit [3, p. 47]. Therefore, muscle mass deficit in females exercises significant influence over the body and leg extensor muscle strength that is displayed in the static mode of contraction.

In the benchpress exercise females with weight deficit demonstrated the result of 29.57 kg on the average, which is 59.4% of their mean body mass. This value corresponds to the average level of development of strength abilities. While during the leg press test, the mean value amounted to 120% of their mean body mass, which corresponds to the high level of development of strength. Consequently, muscle mass deficit in females does not affect the maximal dynamic force.   

The mean number of bench dips of females with weight deficit amounted 11.57 times, which is much worse than the low level of development of strength abilities, since its threshold value for female students aged 17-20 years is 20 times [8, p. 100].

Hence, it is fair to say that muscle mass deficit in females aged 17-19 years does not have any negative consequences on the indices of the dynamic and static maximal force; however, dynamic strength endurance in these female students is very low.

Table 3 represents the statistical characteristics of the functional fitness indices of the examined female students.

Тable 3. Statistical characteristics of functional fitness indices of female students with weight deficit (n = 35)

The analysis of the presented data revealed that heart rate (HR) at rest in the sitting position in female students with weight deficit equals 77.43 bpm on the average. In healthy females of the same age HR at rest should range between 60-75 bpm. Mean HR in our testees was slightly higher than the lower limit of the accepted norm, but this is mainly due to the natural emotional state of females at the time of the experiment during physical education classes.

Herewith, the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) of female students amounted to 111.11 mmHg, and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) - 69.26 mmHg. For young people aged 16-20 years, irrespective of their sex, normal blood pressure is considered to be within the range of 100-120 mmHg if SBP, and 70-80 mmHg if DBP. That is, in our case blood pressure of females with weight deficit is within the normal limits.

The mean timed inspiratory capacity (Stange’s test) of the examined females turned out to be equal to 44.49 sec, which corresponds to the average level of development of the respiratory system. The mean timed expiratory capacity (Genche’s test) equaled 28.83 sec, which also corresponds to the average level [5, p. 42]. Therefore, weight deficit adversely affects only the chest development in females, however, it does not decrease their respiratory function.

During the Ruffier test, female students with weight deficit demonstrated the result of 15.19 conditional units on the average. This index is rated as "poor" and is characterized as a "severe heart failure" [6, p. 128].

Birth-death ratio (BDR) for young females should not be less than 50 ml/kg on the average [5, p. 40]. BDR of female students with weight deficit is equal to 44.11 ml/kg, being lower than the accepted norm by 11.8%.

However, according to the expert evaluation by G.L. Apanasenko, somatic health of these female students is below the average rather than low. Since the mean value of the given index equaled 8.17 conditional units. Yet, the fluctuations range from the average is rather large (σ = 3,77; V = 46,1 %).  

Conclusion. Thus, we can conclude that weight deficit, and particularly the deficit of its muscular component, affects the majority of indices of functional fitness and somatic health of these girls is at the below average level. It is due to the latter fact, such students train in a basic medical group and with rare exception - in additional one. Therefore, it is important to consider that the levels of physical health and functional fitness do not match in this group of students. That is, in terms of health they can perform strenuous physical exercises, and in terms of functional systems - they cannot. And, as is known, the performance of physical exercises is ensured by functional systems. Therefore, the amount of training load at physical education classes with female students with weight deficit should be not big. Moreover, given that many considered indices of physical development, physical and functional fitness are characterized by large fluctuations ranges from the average, an individual approach is required for students with weight deficit or differentiation into several subgroups as a last resort.

References

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Corresponding author: eleg71@mail.ru