BodyAttack

BodyAttack is a commercial group-fitness aerobics program including some sports-derived movements, aimed primarily at developing cardiovascular fitness. The program is created and distributed by Les Mills International, with music and movements varied every few months.^[1] In the UK it is offered at around 1300 health and fitness facilities, approximately one fifth of such facilities in the country.^[2] It consists of a standardized class that is either 55 minutes or 45 minutes in length, led by an instructor who leads participants through various exercises to a contemporary music soundtrack. Like BodyPump and other Les Mills programs, the movements, exercises and music are standardized for all instructors, with the company releasing a new program every three months.^[3] As with most aerobics classes, the aim is to develop numerous domains of physical fitness, particularly cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

Class structure

Participants require no particular equipment other than an exercise mat for floor-based exercises. There are twelve music tracks, each containing exercises to develop specific aspects of physical fitness. The instructor provides more than one difficulty option for most exercises, to allow participants to reduce impact on their joints and/or to allow beginners and those with lower physical fitness to exercise at an appropriate level of intensity.^[3]

For the 55-minute format, the class is arranged to the 12 tracks on a CD produced by the company, timed to allow 55 minutes of exercise.^[4]

• Track 1: Provides a warm-up consisting of low-intensity exercises.
• Tracks 2-4: Provide aerobic exercise, increasing in level of intensity, using movements such as marches, kicks, jumps and stepping movements. Interval training is usually involved (in track 3) and plyometric exercises are also included (in track 4). Less challenging options are provided for those for whom plyometric work is not currently suitable. Near-maximum cardiovascular intensity is reached at the end of track four.
• Track 5: Involves floor-based exercises to develop upper-body strength and muscle endurance, including push-ups and exercises to develop core stability.
• Track 6: Involves running, often in a circle around the perimeter of the room.
• Track 7: Involves exercises to develop agility, usually derived from movements used in various sports. This track is traditionally in a two group format, half of the class facing the other half.
• Tracks 8-9: Provide further cardiovascular exercises, again building up. Track 8 concentrates around interval training and track 9 is aimed to reach maximum cardiovascular intensity, the highest of the entire class. Once again, low-impact options are provided for those participants who are unwilling or unable (e.g. due to injury) to jump or run.
• Track 10: Involves exercises to develop lower-body strength (e.g. squats and lunges)
• Track 11: Involves exercises to develop core stability (e.g. using crunches and plank exercises).
• Track 12: Provides a cool-down involving various stretches

The 45-minute format is similar but usually omits tracks 8 or 9, as well as tracks 10 (lower-body strength) and 11 (core stability).^[4]

Research

Few published studies have investigated the BodyAttack program scientifically. One study investigated the energy expenditure and oxygen consumption of three male and three female participants (mostly instructors) during a typical 55-minute BodyAttack class, undertaken in a controlled laboratory setting. Average energy expenditure was 660kcal for the male participants and 602kcal for the female participants.^[5]

References