title: The health-enhancing efficacy of Zumba® fitness: An 8-week randomised controlled study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to gain a holistic understanding of the efficacy of Zumba® fitness in a community-recruited cohort of overweight and physically inactive women by evaluating (i) its physiological effects on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers and (ii) its mental health-enhancing effects on factors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Participants were randomly assigned to either engagement in one to two 1 h classes of Zumba® fitness weekly (intervention group; n = 10) or maintenance of habitual activity (control group; n = 10). Laboratory assessments were conducted pre- (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8) with anthropometric, physiological, inflammatory and HRQoL data collected. In the intervention group, maximal oxygen uptake significantly increased (P < 0.05; partial η(2) = 0.56) by 3.1 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1), per cent body fat significantly decreased (P < 0.05; partial η(2) = 0.42) by -1.2%, and interleukin-6 and white blood cell (WBC) count both significantly decreased (P < 0.01) by -0.4 pg · mL(-1) (partial η(2) = 0.96) and -2.1 × 10(9) cells · L(-1) (partial η(2) = 0.87), respectively. Large magnitude enhancements were observed in the HRQoL factors of physical functioning, general health, energy/fatigue and emotional well-being. When interpreted in a community-based physical activity and psychosocial health promotion context, our data suggest that Zumba® fitness is indeed an efficacious health-enhancing activity for adults.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing , Kingston University , Kingston upon Thames , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pablo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Domene
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing , Kingston University , Kingston upon Thames , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hannah J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Moir
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing , Kingston University , Kingston upon Thames , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pummell
authors.affiliation: b Institute for Clinical Exercise and Health Science , University of the West of Scotland , Hamilton , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.affiliation: b Institute for Clinical Exercise and Health Science , University of the West of Scotland , Hamilton , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Easton
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: ActiGraph wGT3X+ accelerometer; Latin dance; SF-36; leisure-time physical activity; salsa aerobics