The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Body Composition and Fitness in the Elderly Men

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on body composition and fitness in the elderly men. The number of the participating elderly was 20 and their mean age was 71.4. Aerobic exercise(treadmill(walking), cycling, and elliptical machine) was applied for 80 minutes, three times per week. The changes before and after the exercise were compared and analyzed. Finally, the following conclusions were drawn. The changes of body composition before and after the aerobic exercise had a statistically significant difference in weight, fat-free mass(FFM), BMI, and body fat percentage(% body fat). The changes of fitness before and after the aerobic exercise had no significant difference in coordination but had a statistically significant difference in muscle strength in upper and lower extremities, balance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and FVC. Based on the results, complex aerobic exercise was effective to maintain general fitness and health in the elderly men. However, the study results are limited to generalize because the subject of this study was a single group. Further study is required to add comparative groups and compare the effects of complex aerobic exercise with other exercises or the effects of the elderly women.