Efficiency of dance therapy for weight loss and improvement of the psychological and physiological state in overweight or obese young women

The relevance of the study is explained by the fact that despite the numerous available health-training programs for body weight loss, there is still need for development of new forms of physical training and ways of motivation. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficiency of dance therapy for body weight loss and improvement of physiological and functional state in young women with overweight. Materials and Methods. The study enrolled 82 students from Sechenov University with overweight and first-degree obesity. Forty two girls took exercises within individual health-training programs for 9 months. The programs were based on aerobic activity, including dance therapy. Forty students were engaged in physical training within the curriculum of the university. Before, during and after the training course the authors evaluated the components of body composition; functional state and psycho-emotional status. Results. The final tests showed significant excessive body weigh