Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06851026

Pilates Effect on Women With and Without Obesity

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.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Obesity Prevention Behavior Body Weight Exercise Motor Activity Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Obesity and Overweight Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pilates Exercise Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Yalova University

Yalova, Turkey, 77200, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

pilates exercise

Other

Pilates exercises were applied for 8 weeks

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks

    Difference in BMI before and after the 8-week Pilates intervention. BMI is calculated as weight (kg) divided by height (m²).

  2. Change in Body Fat Percentage

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks

    Difference in body fat percentage before and after the intervention, assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)

  3. Change in Posture Score

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in Emotional Eating

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks

    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.

  2. Change in Social Physique Anxiety

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks

    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

  3. Change in Self-Esteem

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 8 weeks

    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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Yalova

Other

Collaborators

  • The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Registry information

Official study title

Investigating the Effects of Pilates on Body Composition, Posture, and Psychosocial Parameters in Women With and Without Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Feb 28, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 28, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.