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Participation in group fitness classes and stress/quality of life

Title
Participation in group fitness classes and stress/quality of life

Research Area
Tackling Inactivity 

Author
Yorks, D M et al; The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association

Summary of Findings
First and second year students at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine were recruited to take part in a 12 week study and were split into three groups. The first group were asked to do 30 minutes of group fitness classes at least once a week, the second group exercised at least twice a week but with no more than 2 other people and the third group did not undertake exercise except for travelling. Surveys were completed to measure stress levels, quality of life and levels of physical activity completed. The fitness class group exercised a total of 2.95 hours per week on average while the group exercising with no more than 2 others exercised 4.11 hours per week and the control group 0.48 hours per week. When comparing levels before and after the 12 week study those doing the fitness classes showed reduced stress and improved physical, mental, and emotional quality of life. For those exercising with no more than 2 other people there was an improvement in mental quality of life but no statistically significant changes in the other measures while the control group had no statistically significant changes. The improvement in mental quality of life was significantly higher for those doing the fitness classes than those exercising with no more than 2 others. In looking at the wider implications of these findings, researchers state that the social aspects of group exercise cannot be discounted. Additionally medical students who engage in physical activity throughout their training are more likely to provide fitness counselling to their patients. 

Implications
People like to exercise in the format that they find most comfortable and whilst group exercise evidently provides additional benefits to exercising independently, ensuring that everyone has the right and ability to be active in the way they want to is what drives our work.