Objective: To evaluate the effect of long-term swimming program on body composition, aerobic capacity, and blood lipid/cholesterol level.
Material and methods: Nineteen girls aged 14-19 years with duration of diabetes of 8.1+/-0.9 years and 28 healthy girls aged 14-19 years participated in the study. Before and after 14-week swimming program, weight, height, and four skinfold thickness were measured, body mass index (kg/m(2)) and body fat mass (%) were calculated, blood lipid levels (total cholesterol, high-density/low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride) were estimated. Aerobic capacity was assessed by Ruffie test. Training sessions (each lasted for 45 min) were held twice per week for 14 weeks. A total of 28 trainings were performed in the swimming pool. Workload intensity was corrected by pulse measurement before and after every session in the water.
Results: After 14-week swimming program, body mass index did not change, but body fat mass decreased significantly in healthy (27.2+/-1.0 vs. 25.5+/-0.8%, p<0.001) and diabetics (34.8+/-1.2 vs. 32.1+/-1.2%, p<0.001) subjects. Both groups improved their aerobic capacity (p<0.01 in healthy and p<0.05 in diabetics). No significant changes in blood lipid profile were found in all subjects, only high-density lipoprotein concentration significantly increased in healthy girls (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Long-term swimming program improved aerobic capacity, reduced body fat mass in all participants, and reduced high-density lipoprotein levels only in healthy subjects.