Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
PhD Student, Department of Motor Behaviour, Is.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Qadisiyah University, Iraq.
4
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Khoy.C., Islamic Azad University, Khoy, Iran
5
Department of Motor Behaviour, Is.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
10.22038/mjms.2025.26759
Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selected exercises on the physical fitness of overweight and obese Iraqi children aged 8–9 years, with the moderating role of gender.
Methods: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures, including experimental and control groups. The statistical population consisted of overweight and obese children aged 8–9 years in Baghdad. A total of 40 children meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were voluntarily and conveniently selected. To assess physical fitness variables, the following tests were administered: 27.5 m sprint test (speed), 4×9 m shuttle run (agility), Sargent vertical jump test (power), sit-and-reach test (flexibility), and one-leg stance test (balance). Data analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results: The findings indicated that the selected exercises significantly improved balance, power, agility, speed, and flexibility in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In most cases, the main effect of gender was not significant (p > 0.05), whereas the interaction effect of gender and group was significant (p < 0.05). Notably, gender alone showed a significant effect only on the speed variable (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that selected exercises had greater effects on balance, power, agility, and speed in boys compared to girls, while flexibility improvements were more pronounced in girls than in boys.
Keywords
)