Equal-Volume Pilates Frequency in Women With Overweight and Obesity

NCT07498790 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-60116787-020-390690
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 51
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether doing Pilates two days per week or three days per week leads to different health outcomes in women with overweight and obesity, when the total number of exercise sessions is the same. The study focuses on how these two Pilates schedules affect daily movement, balance, body measurements, and quality of life. The main questions it aims to answer are: When participants complete a total of thirty-six Pilates sessions, are there differences in functional performance between a program done three days per week for twelve weeks and a program done two days per week for eighteen weeks? Which program improves balance more? Which program improves obesity-related quality of life more? Are there differences between the two programs in waist and hip measurements, physical activity level, and musculoskeletal complaints? Researchers will compare two supervised Pilates programs: Pilates done three times per week for twelve weeks (thirty-six sessions total) Pilates done two times per week for eighteen weeks (thirty-six sessions total) Participants will: Be randomly assigned by computer to one of the two Pilates programs Take part in thirty-six supervised, mat-based Pilates sessions Have exercise intensity checked during sessions using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale Complete tests and measurements at the start and end of the study, such as walking and balance tests, body measurements, and questionnaires Be encouraged to walk at least two days per week on days without Pilates and record this activity in an exercise diary.

Conditions

Overweight and Obesity

Keywords

Pilates exercise; overweight and obesity; functional performance; training frequency; quality of life; women

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Timed Up and Go (TUG) test time

  Time in seconds required to stand up from a chair without armrests (approximately 46 cm height), walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down. Lower values indicate better functional mobility.

  aseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

• Single-leg stance test time

  Time in seconds the participant was able to maintain single-leg stance on the dominant and nondominant lower extremity without losing balance, swaying excessively, touching the raised foot to the ground, or stepping. Two measurements were obtained, and the higher value was recorded.

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

• 30-Second Chair Stand Test Repetitions

  Number of sit-to-stand repetitions completed in 30 seconds from a standard-height chair without using the arms. Higher values indicate better lower-extremity functional performance.

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

• Six-minute walk test distance

  Distance walked in meters during the 6-minute walk test performed along a 30-meter corridor at the participant's maximum safe walking speed without running. Higher values indicate better submaximal functional exercise capacity.

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Body Mass Index

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

• Waist Circumference

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

• Hip circumference

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

• International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

• Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire

  Baseline and end of intervention (Week 12 for participants in the 3-days/week group; Week 18 for participants in the 2-days/week group)

Study Arms (2)

Pilates 3 Days per Week

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm performed supervised mat-based Pilates exercises three times per week for twelve weeks, completing a total of thirty-six sessions.

Behavioral: Pilates Exercise

Pilates 2 Days per Week

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm performed supervised mat-based Pilates exercises two times per week for eighteen weeks, completing a total of thirty-six sessions.

Behavioral: Pilates Exercise

Interventions

Pilates Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Supervised mat-based Pilates exercise program designed to improve core stabilization, postural alignment, balance, and controlled movement patterns. Sessions were delivered in a group setting and progressed gradually in difficulty. Exercise intensity was monitored using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale to maintain moderate to moderately high intensity.

Pilates 2 Days per Week; Pilates 3 Days per Week

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Female participants aged 18-65 years.
• Body mass index (BMI) ≥27 kg/m².
• Waist circumference \>88 cm.
• Ability to ambulate independently.
• Sufficient cognitive ability to understand instructions and cooperate with assessments.
• Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Musculoskeletal surgery within the previous six months.
• Severe cardiopulmonary disease (e.g., recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina).
• Musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, or cognitive conditions interfering with safe participation.
• Use of medications known to affect bone metabolism.
• Pregnancy.
• Presence of metallic implants or electronic devices (e.g., pacemakers).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pamukkale University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Pamukkale University, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Denizli, Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Overweight; Obesity

Interventions

Exercise Movement Techniques

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Therapy Modalities; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Ummuhan Baş Aslan, PhD, PT

  Pamukkale University, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Denizli, Türkiye

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Çilem Dikmen, PT, MSc

  Pamukkale University, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Denizli, Türkiye

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Raziye Şavkın, PT, PhD

  Pamukkale University, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Denizli, Türkiye

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Melahat Semin Fenkci, MD

  Pamukkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Denizli, Türkiye

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel intervention groups differing in weekly Pilates training frequency (two vs. three sessions per week), while total supervised exercise volume was held constant across groups.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 18, 2026
• First Posted: March 27, 2026
• Study Start: September 11, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2023
• Study Completion: April 26, 2024
• Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)