Physical activity patterns and anthropometric changes in Senegalese women observed over a complete seasonal cycle
✍ Scribed by Eric Benefice; Kirsten Simondon; Robert M. Malina
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 866 KB
- Volume
- 8
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1042-0533
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✦ Synopsis
This study describes the habitual physical activity of a group of women in Northern Senegal who are involved in a hydroagricultural development program and assesses its consequences for their nutritional status. A group of 30 women was followed on three occasions during a complete agricultural cycle. At each visit, activities were observed and timed over periods of 3 and 2 consecutive days. Anthropometric dimensions were taken a t each visit, with a follow-up 1 year later. The women were divided into three groups according to reproductive status: pregnant (PI, lactating (L), and nonpregnant, nonlactating (NPNL). The P group showed a gain in weight and body mass index only starting with the second trimester of pregnancy. During the postpartum stage, indices of arm muscle mass were lower than those measured prior to pregnancy. The L and NPNL groups did not show