THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION AWARENESS EDUCATION ON THE LEVEL OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE IN WOMEN AGED 50-60.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of physical activity and nutrition awareness training on the motor skills and nutrition awareness of individuals related to healthy living in sedentary women aged 50-60 years. Material and Methods: The study included 15 healthy sedentary women on voluntary basis; participants were divided into 2 groups as experimental (n=8) and control (n=7) groups by random sampling method. Participants in the experimental group were given physical activity 2 days a week (60 min/day) for 6 weeks and nutrition education 1 day a week (30 min/day). In the training programs applied during the week, strength was applied on the first day and aerobic exercise was applied on the second day. Age-appropriate motor skill tests (arm curl test, back scratch test, two-minutes step, 8 food up and go test, chair stand test, sit and reach test) and the "Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale for Adults" questionnaire were applied as pre-test and post-test. Whether the data obtained at the end of the study were normally distributed was determined by Shapiro-Wilks test, Paired Samples T-Test was used for intra-group comparisons of physical fitness tests before and after exercise, and Independent Samples T-Test was used for intergroup comparisons. Wilcoxon Test was used in the pre-test and post-test intra-group comparisons and Man Whitney U Test was used in inter-group comparisons of the parameters related to nutritional knowledge levels. Results: As a result of the analysis, statistically significant improvements were found in the performance parameters of the participants in the experimental group in arm curl, back scratch, 2-min step and 8 food up and go test (p<0.05). In addition, the participants in the experimental group statistically significantly improved their 2-min step, 8 food up and go, chair sit and reach, chair stand tests and basic nutrition knowledge level scores compared to the participants in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, it was determined that regular physical activity programs and regular nutrition education improved the health-related motor skill parameters and nutrition knowledge levels of sedentary women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]