Spot Reducing in Overweight College Women: Its Influence on Fat Distribution as Determined by Photography

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of exercise in reducing body weight in overweight college women and to compare the effect of two types of exercises, spot and generalized, on the physical contour of the overweight individual. The experimental program which included a uniform diet resulted in a slight but significant reduction of weight. Planimetric measurements of selected areas and linear transverse measures, obtained from preexercise and postexercise photographs, yielded evidence of reduction in body segments where fat accumulations had been most conspicuous, regardless of the type of exercise administered.