Comparison of the effects of one and two sessions per week of karate training for eight weeks on body composition and lipid profile of female students at Amirkabir University

The decrease in physical activity of students in the years before the national entrance exam and entering university is associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic indicators. Students who have just entered university often have poor mobility and severe muscle weakness. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of general physical education classes that are mandatory for students in the first semester of university. 46 eligible students (age 18±1.02 years, height 164±4.92, BMI 22.34±2.61, fat percentage 21±3.45) were randomly divided into two groups: one and two sessions per week of kata karate training and a control group. Blood samples were taken from all subjects 48 hours before and after the last training session, and changes in the subjects' lipid profile and body composition were examined. The results showed that BMI, fat percentage, LDL, TG and cholesterol levels in the two-session training group per week significantly decreased compared to the control and single-session training groups, and HDL levels increased (P=0.023, P=0.000, P=0.000, P=0.001, P=0.003 and P=0.000, respectively). While the changes in lipid profile and body composition of the one-session group did not have any significant differences with the control group. Despite the contradictory results of the effects of physical activity on lipid profiles, it seems that even two days of exercise per week were sufficient for positive health changes on the lipid profiles of female students at Amirkabir University, while one-session exercise had no significant effect on the body composition and lipid profiles of the students.