Abstract

Purpose/Hypothesis: To determine the effectiveness of a structured ten-week program of exercise and nutritional guidance on quality-of-life measures amongst the general population. Methodology: The study was designed as a quantitative analysis utilizing a non-experimental approach with survey research. The SF-36 (Short Form Quality of Life questionnaire) was distributed to Farrell’s Bodyshaping Program participants across the United States to complete at the beginning of a ten-week session and also at the conclusion. The survey was electronically delivered anonymously through Qualtrics Software and all results were exported to an excel spreadsheet for statistical analysis through Stata SE 15.1. Results: Significant changes in quality-of-life measures were shown after a structured nutrition and supervised ten-week exercise program (aerobic and resistance training) amongst the 250 subjects. The most significant findings included the subcategories of emotional limitation and physical limitation with the largest mean change from pre to post survey. Conclusion: A structured exercise and nutritional program positively affected the subjects’ quality of life. Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects were all significantly affected by Farrell’s ten-week structured program. Emotional limitation and energy and fatigue categories demonstrated the most significant change over the ten-week program. Clinical Relevance: A combined structured program of nutrition and fitness is beneficial to several different age groups with diverse medical histories. A structured program that combines these two wellness components has positive effects on physical, social, and emotional health.