Abstract:

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of mat pilates exercises applied to sedentary overweight and obese women on body composition. A total of 22 (11 training, 11 control) overweight and obese female individuals aged between 35-65 participated in the study voluntarily. While 45 minutes of mat pilates exercise was applied to the training group 3 days a week for 12 weeks, the control group was not included in any exercise program. Age, height, body weight, waist and hip circumferences of all participants (training + control) participating in the study were determined at the beginning of the study, and waist/hip ratio, body fat percentage (BFP), body fat mass (BFM), body mass index (BMI) were determined by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (Bodystat Quadscan 4000) method, lean body mass (LBM) and lean body mass index (LBMI)were measured and the measurements were repeated at the end of the study. SPSS 22.0 IBM statistical package program was used to evaluate the obtained data. While evaluating the study data, descriptive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation) and independent samples t-test for normally distributed variables and Paired Samples t-test for dependent groups were used. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test were applied for the variables that did not show normal distribution. Statistical significance level was accepted as 0,05. According to the research findings, when the pre-test-post-test values of the training and control groups were compared, the waist circumference, BFP, BFM and BMI values at the beginning of the study, and at the end of the study A statistically significant difference was determined in favor of the training group in all parameters except mass LBM and LBMI (p<0.05). As a result, it was concluded that regular pilates exercises applied to middle-aged sedentary overweight and obese women had a positive effect on the body composition of individuals.

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