Clinical trial NCT06851026: Pilates Effect on Women with and Without Obesity
Official title: Investigating the Effects of Pilates on Body Composition, Posture, and Psychosocial Parameters in Women with and Without Obesity: a Randomized Controlled Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Obesity Prevention
Obesity and Overweight
Exercise
Pilates Exercise
Keywords: exercise
obesity
health
physical fitness
psychology
Lead sponsor: University of Yalova
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
First posted: 2025-02-28
Enrollment: 58
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: This study follows a randomized, parallel assignment interventional model with an open-label design. Participants were randomly assigned into four groups based on their obesity status and Pilates intervention:

Pilates group with obesity Pilates group without obesity Control group with obesity Control group without obesity The intervention consisted of an 8-week Pilates program administered to the experimental groups, while control groups did not receive any intervention. The study aimed to examine the effects of Pilates on BMI, fat percentage, posture, emotional eating, social physical anxiety, and self-esteem.

A mixed-design ANOVA was conducted to analyze the interaction between time (pre-test vs. post-test) and group differences. ANCOVA was used to adjust for baseline differences. Additional analyses, including independent samples t-tests and Chi-Square tests, were performed to assess BMI category changes. The study was conducted with an α-level of 0.05 for statistical significance
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: Obesity, a health problem, is caused by insufficient physical activity and unhealthy nutrition. For individuals with obesity, non-weight-bearing and enjoyable exercises, such as Pilates, should be implemented as physical activity due to potential pain. This study aims to examine the effects of an 8-week Pilates exercise program on body composition, posture, and psychosocial parameters in individuals with and without obesity. Methods: The study included 58 female participants: 30 individuals with obesity (nPilates = 15; nControl = 15) and 28 individuals without obesity (nPilates = 14; nControl = 14). Participants performed Pilates exercises twice a week for 8 weeks. Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and posture scores were calculated, and from a psychosocial perspective Emotional Eating Scale (EE), Social Physique Anxiety Inventory (SPA), and Self-Esteem Scales (SE) were administered before and after the eight weeks.

Detailed description: There are no studies in the literature examining the effects of Pilates exercises on emotional eating and posture. Additionally, there are no studies examining the effects of Pilates on posture in individuals with obesity. Most studies in the literature have focused on sedentary women; however, no study has specifically examined the effects of Pilates-based exercises on individuals with and without obesity. This study aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week Pilates intervention on postural alignment, BMI, fat percentage, and psychosocial parameters (emotional eating, social physical anxiety, and self-esteem) in individuals with and without obesity. Thus, this study will provide valuable insights into the role of Pilates in weight management, posture correction, and psychosocial well-being among individuals with and without obesity. The study included 58 female participants: 30 individuals with obesity (nPilates = 15; nControl = 15) and 28 individuals without obesity (nPilates = 14; nControl = 14). Participants performed Pilates exercises twice a week for 8 weeks. Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and posture scores were calculated, and from a psychosocial perspective Emotional Eating Scale (EE), Social Physique Anxiety Inventory (SPA), and Self-Esteem Scales (SE) were administered before and after the eight weeks.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Being a sedentary individual and not not doing regular physical activity
* Being 20 years old or older
* Having a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above for inclusion in the group of women with obesity.
* Having a BMI below 30 kg/m² for inclusion in the group of women without obesity.
* Not having any health problems that would prevent participation in exercise.
* Not having undergone surgery affecting the musculoskeletal system within the last year.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Voluntary withdrawal from the study.
* Failure to comply with the required procedures of the study.
* Arbitrary disruption of the exercise schedule more than twice.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)
timeFrame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
measure: Change in Body Fat Percentage
timeFrame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
measure: Change in Posture Score
timeFrame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in Emotional Eating
timeFrame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
measure: Change in Social Physique Anxiety
timeFrame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
measure: Change in Self-Esteem
timeFrame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Yalova
country: Turkey
facility: Yalova University
Study officials:
affiliation: Yalova University
name: Sema Arslan Kabasakal
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Arslan Kabasakal, S.; Delice, B. (2025). Investigating the Effects of Pilates on Body Composition, Posture, and Psychosocial Parameters in Obese and Non-Obese Women: A Randomized Controlled Study