Effect of Dance on Body Type: A Study on Adult Bengalee Female in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Abstract

Due to the economic development in Indian society, most people are experiencing a sedentary lifestyle and least physical exercise, which is responsible for the increase in various health issues. Exercise plays a great role in maintaining our health, and dancing is an enjoyable exercise which involves various body movements to stay fit and maintain the body shape. The present study attempted to find out the differences in body types between female dancers and non-dancers used as a control group. Out of total 140 female participants aged 18–40 years, 70 were dancers and the remaining 70 were age-matched controls. Heath and Carter’s method of somatotyping was used to estimate the somatotypes of dancers and controls. Dancers and controls differed significantly ( t-test, p <.05) in terms of their body types and shapes, with dancers having greater mean values of mesomorphy, while lower mean values of endomorphy and WHR compared to the control group. This study suggests, based on somatotype, that dancers were more muscular and less fatty than the control group. Also, dancers were found to have a lower waist circumference than the hip circumference, resulting in a pear-shaped body. In light of this, the study indicates that dancing is a useful art form and a health-beneficial substitute for other forms of exercise.