title: The effect of six-week aerobic training program on cardiovascular fitness, body composition and mental health among female students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of six-week aerobic training program including running and rope skipping on cardiovascular fitness, body mass index (BMI), and mental health among female students at the University of Isfahan, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this interventional study we included 30 female students in academic year 2011-12. The participants were randomly assigned in experimental group (n=15, mean±SD for age=26.06±1.18, weight (kg)=57.43±5.67, height (cm)=160.06±4.16) and control group (n=15, mean±SD for age=26.33±1.30, weight=57.66±5.08, height=161.86±3.29). Pre-test and post-test measurements include VO2 max with Queen Step test; BMI and General Health Questionnaire-28 as a measure of mental health were done. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the effects of aerobic training as intervention (P<0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was statistically significance difference between experimental and control groups after adjustment for their own baseline values concerning cardiovascular fitness (P=0.004), BMI (P<0.001) and mental health indices (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A six-week aerobic practice improves cardiovascular strength, mental health and BMI considerably and could be more encouraged at universities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fateme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ergonomics, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. dr_haidari@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heidarimoghadam
authors.affiliation: Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center and Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Manoochehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karami
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Vazgen
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Minasian
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Science, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ebrahim
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bahram
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008603:Mental Health; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012420:Running; D013334:Students; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aerobic Practices; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Readiness; Mental Health