AN INTEGRATED METHODOLOGY FOR STRUCTURING FITNESS PROGRAMS IN WOMEN AGED 17–20 YEARS: EVALUATION OF HEALTH OUTCOMES

Abstract

Aim. This study aimed to develop a structured fitness program for women aged 17–20 years and assess its effects on health-related outcomes. Materials and methods. The study was conducted at an athletic gym, involving female participants aged 17–20 (n = 28) with ≤ 1 month of prior fitness experience. Participants were allocated into two groups: the experimental group (EG, n = 14) and the control group (CG, n = 14). The study lasted for 9 months, with 1.5-hour sessions conducted 3 times weekly. The EG followed a structured five-stage program. The preparatory stage included the collection of medical, physical activity, and general health histories. The diagnostic stage involved the assessment of physical deve­lopment, cardiorespiratory function (CVS and external respiration), physical performance (PWC 170/kg test), and physical fitness. An integrated physical health score was calculated. The analytical stage consisted of data-driven development of a tailored fitness program. The implementation stage involved execution of the individualized fitness regimens. The monitoring stage consisted of a repeated evaluation of health parameters and progress tracking via self-reported diaries (documenting well-being, physical activity, exercise tolerance, heart rate, and body weight). The CG followed a conventional fitness program based on baseline assessments. Results. The EG demonstrated statistically significant improvements in body composition, muscular strength, physical performance, and overall fitness. Key findings included reduced chronotropic response and double product, enhanced circulatory efficiency and integrated physical health score. The CG exhibited only slight improvements in select CVS parameters, PWC 170/kg, integrated physical health score, and fitness metrics, without statistical significance. Conclusion. The study confirms that a structured, multi-stage fitness program, incorporating individualized assessment and continuous monitoring, enhances health outcomes more effectively than conventional approaches.