The effects of an 8-week pilates reformer exercise program on physical characteristics, body satisfaction, and happiness levels in sedentary women

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of an 8-week Pilates reformer exercise program on physical characteristics, body satisfaction, and happiness levels in sedentary women. The research was conducted using a single-group pre-test-post-test experimental design, a quantitative research method. Thirty women living in the central district of Adıyaman province and having a sedentary lifestyle voluntarily participated in the study. Participants underwent a Pilates reformer exercise program for 8 weeks, twice a week, with each session lasting 90 minutes. The data collection tools used in the study were a personal information form, anthropometric measurements, the Happiness Scale, and the Body Satisfaction Scale. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 software package, and the normality of the data distribution was evaluated using skewness and kurtosis values. Dependent samples t-tests were used for pre-test and post-test comparisons. According to the research results, after the implemented Pilates reformer exercise program, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the measurements of body weight, body mass index, arm circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, and leg circumference of the participants (p<0,001). Furthermore, it was determined that body satisfaction scores increased from 35,80±6,88 to 42,13±3,61, and happiness scores increased from 4,13±0,60 to 4,84±0,24, and these increases were statistically significant (p<0,001). While no significant relationship was found between BMI and happiness level, a negative and moderately significant correlation was found between BMI and body satisfaction level (p<0,01). In conclusion, it was determined that the 8-week Pilates reformer exercise program significantly contributed to the improvement of physical characteristics, increased body satisfaction, and higher happiness levels in sedentary women. The findings show that Pilates reformer exercises are an effective exercise method for improving both the physical and psychological health of sedentary women.