There are few reports concerning the physiologic alterations that occur following a specified period of aerobic dance. Further, no data exist to describe the physiologic changes or potential risk associated with using hand-held weights during aerobic dance. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and body composition following 8 weeks of aerobic dance using hand-held weights (Heavyhands, AMF, Jefferson, IA). Twenty-eight college females volunteered for the study. All subjects were given a preoxygen and postoxygen uptake (VO2 max) treadmill test. Body composition was measured by taking the sum of five skinfold sites and determining the percent change following training. Subjects were randomly assigned to a hand-held weight or nonhand-held weight group. No significant differences (P less than 0.05) existed between groups for VO2 max and body composition after 8 weeks of training. However, a significant improvement (P less than 0.05) in VO2 max was found within the hand-held weight (37.7 to 42.6) and in the nonhand-held weight group (36.5 to 41.9). Complaints from subjects included transient aches and pains in the shoulder area during the first 3 weeks as a result of hand-held weight use. These findings suggest that hand-held weights may be used safely but do not increase the work load sufficiently above that of aerobic dance alone to significantly modify VO2 max or body composition.