The aim of this research was to determine the water workout application effects on anthropometric characteristics, body composition and motor abilities of 13-year-old female adolescents. The research was conducted on the sample of 154 female adolescents from south-eastern Serbia, divided into experimental group (n= 82) and control group (n= 72). In the area of anthropometry, the following components were measured: body height, body mass, body mass index (BMI) and five skinfolds. In the area of body composition, the percentage of body fat and total muscle mass was measured. According to the Eurofit Manual, the standard tests recommended for testing school children were conducted, measuring the following variables in the motor area: plate tapping, sit-and- reach, standing broad jump, sit-ups in 30 seconds, bent-arm hang test, agility run 10 x 5 m, and 20 m shuttle-run. The three-times-a-week water training programme lasting for eight weeks was the experimental factor. ANOVA results indicate the statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in body mass, BMI, skin biceps brachi, skin suprailiaca, skin medicalf, skin triceps brachi and body composition variables (p<0.01). There were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups (p< 0.01) in variables pertaining to the plate tapping, standing broad jump, sit-ups in 30 seconds, 20 m shuttle-run, and sit- and-reach and agility run 10 x 5 m (p< 0.05). Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that the water training programme affected the reduction of body composition, improvement of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular force, muscular endurance and mobility in 13-year-old female adolescents. The given water training programme would be the means for obesity prevention in adolescents, which can be useful for the improvement of youth health and quality of life.
KEY WORDS: Morphologic characteristics; Physical activity; Body mass index (BMI).
