PROBLEM
Many lay organizations such as the YMCA, Boy Scouts and Outward Bound have emphasized the importance of "sound body-sound mind" and that physical fitness is relevant to a healthier self-attitude. Physical educators", 3 , have stressed the interrelationship between physical fitness and psychological health for years. This study attempts a direct validation of the effectiveness of physical training having a facilitative impact on other dimensions of an individual's life such as body attitude and self-concept.
To investigate the effects of physical training on self-attitude changes, measures were taken on a group of obese teenagers who enrolled in a special YMCA obese physical training program. It was expected that Ss would demonstrate significant increases in physical fitness performance, positive body attitude, self-acceptance, positive self attitude, and a significant decrease in real versus ideal selfdiscrepancy.
METHOD
Subjects.
Five male teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16 enrolled in the 3 week obesity program. Ss spent 1 hour each day in a gymnasium and 1 hour each day in a pool for a total of 30 hours over the 3 week period. Ss also received a total of 3 hours of group counseling-discussion.
Procedure. The gymnasium work-out consisted of jogging activities in addition to calisthenic exercises. The pool work-out consisted of bobbing and floating exercise along with sprints and endurance work. Both work-out programs were structured so that repetitions of each exercise and distances ran or swum were steadily increased over time. Ss were stressed and coached to break their individual records every day and to give an optimum effort.
Physical fitness tests were administered to each S consisting of: (1) weight, (2) waist size, (3) resting pulse rate, (4) lung capacity, (5) Kraus Webber series of overall fitness, (6) balance tests, (7) chalk jump, (8) push-Measuring instruments.