Effect of Pilates Training on Core Muscles and BMI of Obese Children: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out the effect of six weeks pilates training on core muscles and BMI of obese children. Ten (10) male children aged 12 to 18 years from Bolpur, Birbhum, West Bengal, India have been selected and purposively divided into Pilates Training Group (PTG) (N=05) and Control Group (CG) (N=05) according to WHO BMI Index (Rush, 2004). Six weeks pilates training programme has been formulated to see the effectiveness of training programme on core muscles strength and BMI. The core muscles strength has been tested by ‘Bunkie Test’ through the performance of functional lines before the training starts and after completion of six weeks pilates training programme and BMI has been calculated by height and weight. Significant improvement in core muscles strength as well as on BMI has been found by analysing and comparing the pre-test and post-test score through descriptive analysis and ANCOVA among the obese children of PTG and CG. So it can be concluded that six weeks of pilates training programme is effective in the improvement of core muscles strength as well as in reduction of fatness and BMI among obese children.