Associate Professor, Dr.Hab. V.V. Chemov¹
Associate Professor, PhD I.A. Fatyanov¹
S.V. Musina^{2                                                   
1}Volgograd State Academy of Physical Culture, Volgograd
²Volzhsky Polytechnic Institute (branch) of Volgograd State Technical University, Volzhsky

Keywords: overweight, students, physical training, physical fitness indices, functional state.

Introduction. It is well known that body mass is one of the main indicators of human physical development. It represents an integral index evaluating metabolism, energy and information processes in the body. In addition, as follows from numerous scientific studies, in some universities 30-40% of full-time students have a body mass deviation from the accepted norm towards overweight. However, this important factor is not duly covered in most of modern techniques of physical training in domestic educational institutions [6].

Objective of the study was to conduct a pedagogical analysis of physical condition of students with overweight.

Methods and structure of the study. Subject to study were 203 junior male students of Volzhsky Polytechnic Institute; 8.2% of them were diagnosed with overweight. Therefore, it can be argued that the problem of obesity among junior male students of this university is readily apparent [2].

Results and discussion. Table 1 contains the statistics of the indices of physical development of students with overweight.

So, the mean body length, or body height of the testees, equaled 178.76 cm, which is 3 cm more than the mean statistical value for Russian men, as according to the data obtained in numerous studies it amounts to 176 cm. With this body height, body mass of 17-19-year-old males should be in the range of 69 kg (Brock-Brugsch index). If, however, the body mass norm is determined based on the constitutional type, and in our case all the males were of hypersthenic type, then it equals 73.29 kg for such students [4]. The real mean body mass was 88.65 kg, which is above average by 15.36 kg, i.e. exceeds the ideal body mass by 20% [3].

Accordingly, Kettle’s body mass index of the examined group of males differs from the norm. Thus, 370-400 g/cm is taken as the index norm for males aged 17-19 years. In our case, the mean body mass index equaled 494.96 g/cm, which is higher the upper normal level by 23.7%.

Table 1. Statistical characteristics of indices of physical development of junior male students with overweight (n = 17)

Chest circumference (CC) was above the normal range, too. While the norm for CC of 17-19-year-old males who are 179 cm high is 94.0 cm (B.Kh. Landa, 2005), the mean value of this index in our testees is higher by 6.82 cm or 7.25%.

The fact that the chest of hypersthenic people is rather big is also proved by the positive Erismann index – 11.74 cm. Muscle mass percentage in the examined group of male students was on the average 42.72%. As is well known, the norm for this index in males of this age should not be less than 40% [1].

Mean body fat percentage of junior male students was equal to 19.41%. Taking into account that the norm of this index for males under 20 years ranges between 9 and 15% of fat (R.N. Dorokhov, V.P. Guba, 2002), we can state that overweight is, to the utmost degree, the result of the extended amount of fat. Mean vital capacity (VC) of 17-19-year-old males who are 178.76 cm high and weigh 88.65 kg should be 5409.90 ml. In fact, this index turned out to be much lower - 3540.12 ml, which is 34.6% lower than the necessary VC for the given group of the examined males. And this is true despite the fact that CC of males with overweight exceeds the average rate, which is deemed normal for this age.

Table 2 represents the statistical characteristics of the physical fitness indices of male students with overweight.

Table 2. Statistical characteristics of physical fitness indices of junior male students with overweight (n = 17)

Thus, the body bending depth index in the given category of students, which characterizes their flexibility, equaled 10.03 cm, which corresponds to the average level of development of this physical ability in males aged 17-20 years. In the 3x10 shuttle run performance, young males with overweight demonstrated 8.48 sec on the average. This result corresponds to the low level of development of coordination abilities, as the threshold value is 8.1 sec. This also holds true for the average result in the 1000 m run. Thus, it is equal to 275.91 sec for students with overweight [3]. Dynamometry of the strongest hand in males should be 65-80% of their body mass on the average (V.I. Dubrovsky, 1999). Taking into consideration that the mean body mass of the testees was 88.65 kg, their dynamometry should have ranged between 51.0-70.9 kg. While in fact the results turned out to approach the lower limit. Thus, the mean right hand dynamometry was equal to 55.21 kg, left hand - 53.71 kg.

According to the experts, the threshold value of the low level of development of static strength of the body and leg extensor muscles, determined by means of deadlift dynamometry, is equal to 175% of the sole weight (V.I. Dubrovsky, 1999). In our case, deadlift dynamometry in the examined males amounted to 140.26 kg on the average, which is 158.2% of the mean body mass. This indicates the low level of static strength capabilities in the given male students. In the bench press exercise, males demonstrated the result of 74.26 kg on the average. According to S.E. Volzhanin's score table (2007), this value corresponds to the high level of development of dynamic strength. This also holds true for leg press, while the average number of pull-ups on high bar amounted to 5.76 times only. This corresponds to the low level of development of strength abilities. This test is known to estimate person’s strength endurance rather than his strength abilities [3].

Hence, summarizing the analysis results, it is fair to say that overweight, and fat mass in equal measure, has a very slight impact on the indices of the dynamic and static maximal strength, as well as their flexibility level. Obviously, this is due to the fact that young males have to display strength in their everyday life, even if they do not exercise purposefully. However, overweight adversely affects the dynamic strength endurance in these male students, their coordination abilities and general endurance.

Table 3 represents the statistical characteristics of the functional fitness indices of the examined junior male students with overweight.

Table 3. Statistical characteristics of functional fitness indices of junior male students with overweight (n = 17)

So, the analysis of the obtained data revealed that HR at rest in the sitting position in the junior male students with overweight was equal to 78.24 bpm on the average. In healthy males of the same age HR at rest should range between 55-70 bpm (Great Medical Encyclopedia, 1975). That is, in this case the mean HR exceeds the accepted lower normal limit by more than 8 bpm, or 11.8%. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the examined male students amounted to 133.12 mmHg, while the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) - 76.41 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 (Great Medical Encyclopedia, 1975). In other words, in our case, the diastolic blood pressure of the young males with overweight is within the normal limits, and systolic – is higher by 13.12 mmHg. Increased SBP explains in many instances increased HR in the given category of students. The mean timed inspiratory capacity (Stange’s test) of the examined males was equal to 69.18 sec [3], which corresponds to the high level of development of their respiratory system [4]. However, the mean timed expiratory capacity (Genchi’s test) equaled 37.35 sec, which corresponds to the average level. Therefore, overweight does not have any negative impact on the respiratory function of young males. During the Ruffier test, the students with overweight demonstrated the result of 13.11 conditional units on the average. This index is rated as "satisfactory" and is characterized as a "moderate heart failure" (Z.B. Belotserkovsky, 2005). Birth-death ratio (BDR) for young males aged 18-20 years should not be less than 60 ml/kg on the average [4]. BDR of the male students with overweight is equal to 39.93 ml/kg, which is lower than the accepted norm by 30%. However, according to the expert evaluation by G.L. Apanasenko (1985), somatic health of the examined male students is below the average rather than low, as the mean value of the given index equaled 4.23 conditional units (threshold value - 4.0)

Conclusion. Young males with overweight can attend physical education classes with reduced load only. Given that their functional fitness and health indices deviate significantly from the mean values, it is necessary to use a differentiated approach during both physical education classes and in the off-class hours.

References

1. Dorokhov R.N., Guba V.P. Sportivnaya morfologiya. Ucheb. posobie [Sport morphology. Study guide]. Moscow: SportAkademPress publ., 2002, 232 p.
2. Egorycheva E.V., Musina S.V. Issledovanie otkloneniy massy tela u sovremennoy studencheskoy molodezhi [Study of body weight deviations in modern students]. Sovremennye issledovaniya sotsialnykh problem, 2011, no. 4, pp. 1-6. Available at: http://sisp.nkras.ru/issues/2011/4/egorycheva.pdf.
3. Egorycheva E.V. Otsenka fizicheskogo razvitiya, funktsionalnogo sostoyaniya i fizicheskoy podgotovlennosti studentov s defitsitom massy tela [Evaluation of physical development, functional state and physical fitness of students diagnosed with underweight]. Uchenye zapiski un-ta im. P.F. Lesgafta, 2014, no. 2, pp 66-70.
4. Landa B.H. Metodika kompleksnoy otsenki fizicheskogo razvitiya i fizicheskoy podgotovlennosti. Ucheb. posobie [Methodology of comprehensive evaluation of physical development and fitness. Study guide]. Moscow: Sovetskiy sport publ., 2006, 208 p.
5. Yakimovich V.S. Proektirovanie sistemy fizicheskogo vospitaniya detey i molodezhi v razlichnykh uchebnykh zavedeniyakh [Physical education system design for children and youth in various educational institutions]. Volgograd: VSAEU publ., 2002. 136 p.
6. Yakimovich V.S., Musina S.V. Vzaimosvyaz pokazateley zdorovya i fizicheskoy podgotovlennosti studencheskoy molodezhi s izbytochnoy massoy tela [Correlation of Health and Physical Fitness Indices of Student Youth with Overweight]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2013, no. 1, pp. 37-40.

Corresponding author: chemov58@mail.ru

Abstract

Based on the results of the in-depth study, the article states that overweight in junior male students has a negative impact on most physical fitness and functional state indices.

Somatic health of such students corresponds to the below-average level. This underlines the need to use a student-centered or differentiated approach to this category of students when planning and organizing physical education classes in educational institutions.

The study involved junior male students (n=203) of Volzhsky Polytechnic Institute; 8.2% of them were proved to suffer from overweight.

The analysis of the physical development characteristics has revealed that young males with overweight can attend physical education classes with reduced load only. Given that their functional fitness and health indices deviate significantly from the mean values, it is necessary to use a differentiated approach during both physical education classes and in the off-class hours.