Effects of a Fitness-Oriented General Physical Education Course on Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Resilience in Female College Students

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a fitness-oriented general physical education course on body composition, physical fitness, and resilience in female college students. Sixty female college students enrolled in a general physical education course at D University were assigned to an exercise group (n=30) or a control group (n=30). The course was conducted once per week for 12 weeks and consisted of combined aerobic and resistance exercises. Body composition, physical fitness, and resilience were assessed before and after the intervention, and data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA. The results showed a significant group-by-time interaction for body fat percentage, with a decrease in the exercise group and an increase in the control group. Muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance significantly improved in the exercise group, and positivity and overall resilience levels also increased, whereas no significant changes were observed in self-regulation or interpersonal competence. These findings suggest that a fitness-oriented general physical education course, even when conducted once per week, can effectively improve body composition, selected physical fitness components, and resilience in female college students, supporting its value as an educational intervention for promoting physical and psychological health.