title: An 8-Week Exercise Intervention Based on Zumba Improves Aerobic Fitness and Psychological Well-Being in Healthy Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although Zumba is practiced by millions of people worldwide, there is a paucity of research about its potential benefits. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Zumba on physiological and psychological outcomes in healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiovascular fitness, body composition, physical self-perception and psychological well-being were assessed before and immediately after 8 weeks of Zumba performed 3 times weekly (Zumba group, n = 22, age: 26.6 ± 5.4 years old; height: 165.8 ± 7.1 cm) or no intervention (control group, n = 22, age: 27.9 ± 6.0 years old; height: 164.7 ± 6.2 cm). All variables were analyzed by a 2-way (Group × Time) analysis of variance with repeated measures, and a Bonferroni post hoc test. Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between changes in anthropometric, physiological and psychological variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Zumba provided significant positive changes in maximal aerobic fitness (+3.6%), self-perception of physical strength (+16.3%) and muscular development (+18.6%), greater autonomy (+8.0%), and purpose in life (+4.4%). No significant changes were observed in the control group. In addition, some psychological changes were significantly correlated to body fat at baseline, and changes in fitness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results highlight that Zumba is beneficial to improve fitness and well-being in healthy women, but does not change body composition.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Sport and Health Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Anne A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Delextrat
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neupert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D016387:Women's Health