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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
58
Pilates exercises were applied for 8 weeks
Yalova University
Yalova, Turkey, Turkey (Türkiye)
Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)
Difference in BMI before and after the 8-week Pilates intervention. BMI is calculated as weight (kg) divided by height (m²).
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
Change in Body Fat Percentage
Difference in body fat percentage before and after the intervention, assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
Change in Posture Score
Assessed using the New York Posture Rating Scale to evaluate improvements in postural alignment. This assessment is conducted by scoring potential postural changes in 13 different parts of the body. If the person's each parts of body posture is correct, a score of 5 is given; if moderately impaired, a score of 3; and if severely impaired, a score of 1. The total score ranges from a maximum of 65 to a minimum of 13. A higher score indicates better posture alignment.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
Changes in Emotional Eating
Participants' emotional eating changes were measured with the Emotional Eating Scale. The scale consists of 10 items and is structured in a 4-point Likert format (0 = Never, 1 = Sometimes, 2 = Often, 3 = Always). The scale is scored between 0 and 30. A score of "30" indicates the highest level of emotional eating behavior, while a score of "0" indicates the absence of emotional eating behavior.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
Change in Social Physique Anxiety
Changes in participants' social physics anxiety levels were measured with The Social Physique Anxiety Inventory. The items in the inventory are answered using a five-point scale (completely false, mostly false, sometimes false, sometimes true, mostly true, completely true). The minimum possible score from the inventory is 12, and the maximum is 60. Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety about physical appearance
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
Change in Self-Esteem
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to measure self-esteem. The scale consists of 31 items. The minimum score is 31 and the maximum score is 155. An increase in the score obtained from the scale indicates an increase in self-esteem.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks
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