THE SHORT-TERM EFFECT OF A LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIET COMBINED WITH FITNESS ON WOMEN'S ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICATORS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/1728.2748.2026.104.5-10Keywords:
Body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference, low-carb diet, fitness.Abstract
Background. It is widely recognized that human health depends on genetics (40 %), healthcare services (10 %), and lifestyle factors, including harmful habits, physical activity, and dietary patterns (approximately 50 %) (Manzhaliy E.G., 2021). In addition to therapeutic nutrition, various diets have gained popularity over the years as both nutritionists and individuals attempt to balance nutrient intake with the body's needs, considering social status, gender, age, and physical activity levels (Freire, 2020; Shilpa & Viswanathan, 2018). The main objectives of dietary interventions are to regulate metabolism and correct body weight (Andersen, 2024; Shilpa & Viswanathan, 2018). Currently, weight management programs include general dietary recommendations, specialized nutritional plans, behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgical treatment for obesity. A low-carbohydrate diet with controlled caloric intake, combined with fitness training, is considered one of the most effective approaches for rapid fat loss. The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of a low-carbohydrate diet combined with fitness training in improving women's physical condition.
Methods. The study employed various methods, including anthropometric measurements, an experimental approach, data synthesis, statistical analysis, surveys, and in-depth interviews. The sample consisted of 30 participants (N = 30); women aged 19 to 49 years. All participants voluntarily took part in the study with informed consent.
Results. At the end of the experiment, participants following the low-carbohydrate diet combined with fitness training experienced an average body weight reduction of 3.97 kg. The maximum recorded weight loss was 9.5 kg. The body mass index (BMI) decreased by an average of 1.54, body fat percentage by 2.36 %, and waist circumference by 4.42 cm. The most significant individual reductions observed were 3.85 in BMI, 6.7 % in body fat percentage, and 9.0 cm in waist circumference.
Conclusions. A statistically significant reduction was observed in all analyzed indicators (body weight, fat percentage, BMI, waist circumference, and fat mass) before and after the experiment. The most notable improvements were seen in absolute anthropometric parameters such as body weight and waist circumference, while relative indicators such as body fat percentage and BMI demonstrated smaller but still statistically significant reductions.
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