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Journals / Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2026

A Comparison of Body Attitudes Among Female Fitness and Pilates Participants in Terms of Body Composition and Socio-Demographic Variables

Fitness ile Pilates Yapan Kadınların Bedenlerine Yönelik Tutumlarının Vücut Kompozisyonu ve Sosyo-Demografik Açıdan Karşılaştırılması

Mine Ömercioğlu(BURDUR MEHMET AKİF ERSOY ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-1468-0444
Buse Çelik(BURDUR MEHMET AKİF ERSOY ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-7363-4184
Pages
713–732
Publication Date
2026-09-04
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Results: The findings revealed that women who engage in fitness have a stronger perception of being strong and fit compared to those practicing pilates.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: It is well established that the effects of exercise modalities on body image vary.
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Key Findings & Data:Method: Participants were recruited from multiple private fitness centers and pilates studios across southwestern Türkiye (Antalya, Burdur, and Denizli) between September 2024 and June 2025.
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Conclusion & Impact:Results: The findings revealed that women who engage in fitness have a stronger perception of being strong and fit compared to those practicing pilates.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Beden algısı · vücut komposizyonu · egzersiz psikolojisi

Abstract

Purpose: It is well established that the effects of exercise modalities on body image vary. This study aims to compare the body attitudes of female fitness and pilates participants within the scope of body composition and socio-demographic variables. Method: Participants were recruited from multiple private fitness centers and pilates studios across southwestern Türkiye (Antalya, Burdur, and Denizli) between September 2024 and June 2025. Designed as a descriptive survey model within a quantitative research approach, the study sample consists of 193 women (Mage = 26.49, SD = 8.22) who regularly participate in fitness (n = 91) or pilates (n = 102). Data were collected via a Demographic Information Form, the Ben-Tovim Walker Body Attitudes Questionnaire, and an InBody device. Independent samples t-tests and Pearson correlation analysis were utilized for data analysis. Results: The findings revealed that women who engage in fitness have a stronger perception of being strong and fit compared to those practicing pilates. Marital status was found to differentiate scores in the disparagement and attractiveness subscales, while individuals with a history of licensed sports participation exhibited higher perceptions of attractiveness and lower perceptions of fatness. Furthermore, women without children had significantly higher disparagement scores than those with children. As age increased, perceptions of disparagement, attractiveness, and being strong/fit decreased in the pilates group, whereas only disparagement decreased in the fitness group. The relationships between body composition variables and body attitudes support the existing literature. Conclusion: In conclusion, women's body attitudes are associated with exercise modality, past sports experience, socio-demographic characteristics, and body composition variables. However, rather than a unidimensional structure, this relationship exhibits a multidimensional pattern that differentiates across specific subscales.

Özet

Amaç: Egzersiz türlerinin beden algısı üzerindeki etkilerinin değişkenlik gösterdiği bilinmektedir. Bu araştırma, fitness ile pilates yapan kadınların beden tutumlarını, vücut kompozisyonlarını ve sosyodemografik değişkenler kapsamında karşılaştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Yöntem: Nicel araştırma yaklaşımı kapsamında betimsel tarama modeli ile kurgulanan araştırmanın örneklemini, düzenli olarak fitness ( n = 91) ile pilates ( n = 102 ) yapan 193 kadın ( yaş ort. = 26.49±8.22) oluşturmaktadır. Veriler, Demografik Bilgi Formu, Ben-Tovim Walker Beden Tutum Ölçeği ve InBody cihazı aracılığıyla toplanmış, verilerin analizinde Bağımsız Gruplar t-testi ve Pearson Korelasyon Analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgulara göre fitness yapan kadınların güçlü ve fit olma algısı, pilates yapanlara kıyasla anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksektir. Medeni durumun aşağılama ve çekicilik alt boyutlarında farklılık yarattığı, geçmişte lisanslı spor yapanların çekicilik algılarının daha yüksek, şişmanlık algılarının ise daha düşük olduğu saptanmıştır. Ayrıca çocuğu olmayan kadınların aşağılama puanlarının, çocuğu olanlara göre daha yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yaş arttıkça pilates grubunda aşağılama, çekicilik ve güçlü-fit olma algılarının; fitness grubunda ise yalnızca aşağılama algısının düştüğü tespit edilmiştir. Vücut kompozisyonu değişkenleri ile beden tutumu arasındaki ilişkiler mevcut literatürü destekler niteliktedir. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, kadınların beden tutumlarının egzersiz türü, geçmiş spor deneyimi, sosyodemografik özellikler ve vücut kompozisyonu değişkenleri ile ilişkili olduğu; ancak bu ilişkinin tek boyutlu bir yapıdan ziyade, çok boyutlu ve alt boyutlara göre farklılaşan bir yapı sergilediği görülmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Ömercioğlu, M., Çelik, B. (2026). A Comparison of Body Attitudes Among Female Fitness and Pilates Participants in Terms of Body Composition and Socio-Demographic Variables. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2026, 713–732. https://ajindex.com/articles/1471801

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