EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PILATES MAT EXERCISE PROGRAM ON SOME FITNESS PARAMETERS AND WEIGHT LOSS AT MIDDLE AGED PERIMENOPAUSAL SEDENTARY WOMEN

Menopause starts when menstruation permanently cuts off. Perimenopause was defined asirregular bleeding (6 weeks to 4 months) and/or vasomotor symptoms such as sweating and hot flushes(3). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intermittent exercise on bodycomposition, fat distribution and vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal sedentary women.In this study participated that total 66 middle-aged with the phenomenon of hot flushesoverweight sedentary women as volunteers. Body weight, Body composition (via skinfolds caliper), waisthip ratio, waist circumference and body fat percentage were obtained from sedentary women. Besidessubjects were asked menopausal bleeding patterns (including vasomotor symptoms) states withinformation form. The measurements were taken twice as before and after Pilates mat training programbeing applied a 6-week series of one hour exercise three days per week. The control group did notparticipate in any activity exercise program during the six-week period. There were significant differencesbetween pretest and posttest for weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist hip ratio, fatpercentage and body composition parameters in exercise group (p<0,05). Also, there were not significantdifferences between pretest and posttest for same measurements in control group. According to subjects'answers to was found that pilates mat exercise had significantly effective on hot flushes from vasomotorsymptoms at sedentary women.As a result, the findings support of pilates mat exercises effects on weight loss and body compositionparameters. Pilates mat exercises can have long-term benefits for women undergoing the menopausal transition.