Dance-Based Exercise Versus Clinical Pilates in Women With Overweight or Obesity

NCT07745166 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: E-60116787-020-906310
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Purpose of the Study: Regular physical activity is key in managing overweight and obesity, but keeping up with a program can be challenging. The main purpose of this study is to compare how well women with overweight or obesity stick to (adhere to) a 10-week dance-based exercise program versus a clinical Pilates program. The study also aims to explore how enjoyable, acceptable, and tolerable both programs are, and how they affect participants' quality of life, physical activity levels, body measurements, and physical performance. What the Study Involves: Female volunteers aged 18 to 60 with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 35 kg/m² will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

1. 1.Dance-Based Exercise Group: Participants will join group dance sessions designed with low-impact, rhythmic movements to avoid joint strain.
2. 2.Clinical Pilates Group: Participants will join group Pilates sessions on mats, focusing on core stability, posture, breathing, and muscle control.

Conditions

Overweight; Obesity

Keywords

Overweight; Obesity; Exercise Adherence; Clinical Pilates; Dance-Based Exercise; Acceptability; Women's Health; Physical Performance; Quality of Life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Exercise Adherence Rate

  The percentage of planned exercise sessions attended by each participant among those who attend at least one session of the assigned exercise program. It is calculated using the formula: (Number of sessions attended / 20 planned sessions) × 100.

  Up to 10 weeks (evaluated at the end of the intervention period)

Secondary Outcomes (21)

• Intervention Initiation Rate

  Up to 10 weeks

• Exercise Program Completion Rate

  Up to 10 weeks

• Study Retention Rate

  Week 10

• Physical Activity Enjoyment

  Baseline and Week 10

• Intervention Acceptability and Satisfaction

  Week 10 (or at the time of early discontinuation)

Study Arms (2)

Dance-Based Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will perform a supervised, structured, group-format, dance-based exercise program 2 days a week for 10 weeks (a total of 20 sessions, 45-60 minutes per session). The program focuses on low-impact, rhythmic, and multidirectional movements to avoid excessive joint strain. Each session includes a warm-up, a main dance phase, and a cool-down/relaxation phase.

Behavioral: Dance-Based Exercise Program

Clinical Pilates Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will perform a supervised, structured, group-format, mat-based clinical Pilates program 2 days a week for 10 weeks (a total of 20 sessions, 45-60 minutes per session). The program focuses on core stabilization, postural control, breathing awareness, flexibility, and muscle control. Each session includes a warm-up/postural awareness phase, main Pilates exercises, and stretching/cool-down.

Behavioral: Clinical Pilates Program

Interventions

Clinical Pilates Program BEHAVIORAL

A supervised, mat-based clinical Pilates program focusing on core stabilization, postural control, and muscle strength. Conducted in a group format by a physical therapist for 10 weeks (2 sessions/week, 45-60 minutes/session). Each session consists of: 1. Warm-up (8-10 mins): Breathing and postural awareness. 2. Main Section (30-40 mins): Mat exercises targeting core and extremity control. 3. Cool-down (8-10 mins): Stretching and relaxation. Progression is advanced based on participant tolerance by modifying exercise difficulty, repetitions, and introducing auxiliary equipment when required. Target intensity is kept at light-to-moderate and monitored using Borg RPE scores.

Clinical Pilates Group

Dance-Based Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

A supervised, low-impact dance-based exercise program tailored specifically for women with overweight and obesity. To minimize joint loading, the program strictly avoids high-impact movements such as jumping, running, sudden direction changes, and rapid pivoting. The sessions are designed and conducted in a group format by an experienced physical therapist. The program is structured for 10 weeks, 2 sessions per week, with each session lasting 45-60 minutes. Each session consists of: 1. Warm-up (8-10 minutes): Rhythmic breathing, joint mobilization, and postural awareness. 2. Main Dance Section (30-40 minutes): Low-impact, structured choreographies involving rhythmic stepping, weight shifting, multi-directional steps, controlled trunk movements, and upper extremity coordination. 3. Cool-down (8-10 minutes): Low-intensity stretching and relaxation. Progression is systematically advanced based on participant tolerance by increasing movement duration, choreography complexity, and tempo.

Dance-Based Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female gender
• Aged 18 to 60 years
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 35 kg/m²
• Clinically stable
• Able to participate regularly in the exercise program
• Volunteering to participate and providing written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Being pregnant or breastfeeding
• Currently on an active weight loss diet
• Receiving pharmacological treatment for obesity
• History of bariatric surgery
• Uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, unstable cardiac disease, or serious cardiovascular risk for exercise
• Chronic respiratory system disease significantly affecting exercise tolerance
• Cancer, cerebrovascular disease, or severe systemic disease preventing safe exercise
• Musculoskeletal injury, neurological disease, or significant balance/vestibular/visual problems affecting exercise participation
• Uncontrolled psychiatric illness
• Acute infection
• Participating in a structured exercise program within the last 6 months
• Transport, time, or health barriers preventing regular attendance

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pamukkale University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Pamukkale University Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Denizli, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Overweight; Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Central Study Contacts

Ummuhan Baş Aslan, Prof.

CONTACT

+902582964295; umbaslan@pau.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: This is a two-arm, parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomized active-comparator feasibility trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Eligible participants are randomized into either the Dance-Based Exercise Group or the Clinical Pilates Group using block randomization managed by an independent researcher. Both groups receive supervised, face-to-face, group-format physical exercise interventions 2 days a week for 10 weeks. Outcomes are assessed at baseline (prior to the interventions) and at the end of the 10-week intervention period by an assessor who is blinded to the group assignments.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 29, 2026
• First Posted: August 4, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Last Updated: August 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

TU (1)