GLI EFFETTI DEL PILATES SULLE DONNE SOVRAPPESO/OBESE NEL POST-MENOPAUSA

The main cause of obesity is an increase in calorie intake and a decrease in physical activity. Regular physical activity is recommended as one of the most effective options for the prevention and non-pharmacological treatment of lifestyle- related diseases. Physical exercise promotes energy balance, reducing body fat and improving musculoskeletal health and quality of life. During menopause, hormonal changes can alter lipid metabolism and promote weight gain. For this reason, alternative forms of exercise such as Pilates are useful in controlling overweight and obesity. Having passion for pilates, it was a great experience for me to enlarge my knowledge on pilates training and health promotion topics in in two different research group coordinated by Profs P. Buono and G.P. Emerenziani. During my PhD period, i collaborated on different projects focusing on - evaluating the health effects of pilates training and examining the relationships between body weight, lifestyle and fitness in adults with overweight and obesity. I evaluated the effects of an on-line home Pilates training programme, combined with a Mediterranean-based dietary intervention, by examining the body composition of post-menopausal women who were overweight or obese. Subsequently, by expanding the sample to include men, the components of muscular fitness in overweight and obese adults were evaluated. My first thesis project was evaluate the effects of on-line home Pilates training combined with an intervention based on the Mediterranean diet in order to ensure good health and reduce the complications of this condition. We evaluated the effects on body mass and body composition in a sample of women who were overweight or obese. Thirty-five women were randomly assigned to a group that practised Pilates at home (PG, n = 18) or a group without intervention (control group, CG, n = 17). Both groups followed a Mediterranean diet program. The PG followed a twelve-week on-line Pilates Matwork programme (three times a week; 180 min/week), while the CG did not participate in any structured exercise programme. Adherence to exercise and diet or diet alone was assessed weekly for each group (PG and CG). Adherence to the program was calculated as the percentage of sessions completed compared to the total planned. For the PG, exercise and diet were monitored at each lesson supervised by the Pilates instructor. Attendance at supervised Pilates lessons was recorded in a dedicated database, accessible only to the instructor. During each session, RPE, FS, and FAS scale values were also collected. For unsupervised classes, participants had to repeat the same session proposed in the weekly class on their own and send the relevant RPE, FS, and FAS values as confirmation of completion. For the CG, a doctor monitored adherence to the diet program via a phone call, and participants were reminded to maintain an active lifestyle. Body composition and handgrip strength were assessed at baseline (T0) and after the intervention (T3). %FM was significantly lower at T3 than at T0 in PG also appendicular skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.05) and skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.01). All these variables were significantly higher at T3 than at T0 in the PG (p < 0.05). These preliminary data show us that home Pilates combined with a dietary intervention can be an effective strategy for improving body composition in terms of reducing fat mass and increasing muscle mass in adults with obesity. My second thesis project was to examine the effects of on-line home Pilates training and dietary intervention on body composition and components of muscular fitness in overweight and obese adults. Eighty-eight participants (age: 50.1 ± 10.4 years; BMI: 31.3 ± 4.6 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to a control group (CG, n=37) and a Pilates group (PG, n=51) following a Mediterranean diet programme; only the PG completed on-line Pilates. Muscle fitness variables and muscle quality index (MQI) were assessed at baseline (T0) and (T3). A significant effect of time on BC parameters was observed (p<0.05). Fat mass decreased in the PG (p<0.05). A reduction in skeletal muscle mass was observed in the CG (p=0.05). A significant main effect of time was observed for Fmax and F12rep. A significant group x time interaction (p<0.05) was found for STS, which showed a significantly lower value at T3 compared to T0 in the PG (p<0.05). Three participants in both groups achieved a normal MQI. Mat Pilates and MD may preserve muscle mass and improve lower limb muscle power in obese adults. During my PhD, I collaborated on several studies and research projects conducted on different variables and samples of muscular fitness, in order to explore the role of physical activity in health prevention and promotion. These experiences allowed me to integrate experimental and applied approaches in different populations, age groups and environments.