Promoting Body Satisfaction through Aerobic Exercise in Obese Women: Findings from a Single-Arm Intervention Study

Authors

  • Addisalem Girma Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,
  • Mathivanan Dhamodharan (Ph.D) Department of Sport Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia
  • Kumaresan Ramanathan Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jimma, Ethiopia
  • Aschenaki Taddese (Ph.D) Department of Sport Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
  • Zeru Bekele (Ph.D) Department of Sport Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
  • Theodros Berhane (Ph.D) Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,
  • Mulay Gebretensay Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,

Keywords:

Obesity, Body satisfaction, Exercise intervention, Single-arm

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are growing global health challenges, with Sub-Saharan Africa experiencing rising rates, especially in urban areas. This study examined the effects of a 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic  exercise program on body satisfaction among obese women. Forty women  aged 30–38 years witha BMI ≥30 kg/m² were purposively selected from E Dilla University. Participants engaged in 30-minute aerobic sessions three times weekly. Body satisfaction was assessed using the Body Areas Satisfaction Scale (BASS) at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Data analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA in SPSS Version

20. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in body , satisfaction after the intervention (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that regular aerobic exercise can enhance body image and psychological well-being in obese women. The study supports the use of non-pharmacological, exercise-based interventions as effective, accessible strategies to improve mental health and body satisfaction in low- and middle- income countries.

Author Biographies

Addisalem Girma, Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,

Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,

Mathivanan Dhamodharan (Ph.D), Department of Sport Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia

Department of Sport Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia

Kumaresan Ramanathan, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jimma, Ethiopia

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jimma, Ethiopia

Aschenaki Taddese (Ph.D), Department of Sport Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

Department of Sport Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

Zeru Bekele (Ph.D), Department of Sport Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

Department of Sport Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

Theodros Berhane (Ph.D), Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,

Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,

Mulay Gebretensay, Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,

Department of Sport Science, Mekele University, Mekele, Ethiopia,

Downloads

Published

2025-12-26

How to Cite

[1]
Girma, A., Dhamodharan (Ph.D), M., Ramanathan, K., Taddese (Ph.D), A., Bekele (Ph.D), Z., Berhane (Ph.D), T. and Gebretensay, M. 2025. Promoting Body Satisfaction through Aerobic Exercise in Obese Women: Findings from a Single-Arm Intervention Study. ETHIOPIAN JOURNAL OF SPORT SCIENCE . 6, (Dec. 2025), 391–401.

Issue

Vol. 6 (2025): Issue. 1 Ethiopian Journal of Sport Science (EJSS)

Section

Articles