Abdominal and Core Exercises on Respiratory Functions in Obese and Overweight Women (COREBREATH)

Launched by ONDOKUZ MAYIS UNIVERSITY · Jul 29, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at whether a special 8-week exercise program, based on Pilates, can help improve breathing and overall health in women who are overweight or obese. The exercises focus on strengthening the belly and core muscles, and participants will do them three times a week. Researchers will measure breathing ability, how long participants can hold their breath, tummy movement, core strength, and quality of life before and after the program to see if there are any benefits.

Women between 18 and 60 years old with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher may be able to join, as long as they don’t have lung diseases like asthma, haven’t been exercising regularly in the past six months, and don’t have any health problems that would make exercise unsafe. Participants will be split into two groups—one that does the exercises and one that does not—so researchers can compare the results. If you join, you can expect to attend exercise sessions three times each week and undergo simple tests to check your breathing and muscle strength at the start and end of the study. This trial aims to find out if these targeted exercises can help women with extra weight breathe better and feel healthier.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• • inclusion criteria
• • 1. Women aged 18-60
• • 2. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² (obese and overweight)
• • 3. Baseline FEV0 value ≥ 80% (measured by spirometry)
• • 4. Individuals without respiratory disease (no diagnosis of asthma, COPD, etc.)
• • 5. Individuals who have not engaged in regular exercise in the past 6 months
• • 6. Individuals without orthopedic or neurological conditions that physically prevent participation in the exercise protocol
• • 7. Non-pregnant individuals
• • 8. Individuals who voluntarily agree to participate in the study and sign the informed consent form exclusion criteria
• • 1. Individuals with a FEV0 value \<80% (due to risk of obstructive lung disease) 2. Individuals who have undergone surgery in the abdomen, waist, or pelvic area within the last 6 months 3. Individuals with orthopedic, neurological, or systemic diseases that would prevent them from exercising 4. Individuals who have been engaging in regular exercise for 3 or more days per week in the past 3 months 5. Individuals with diagnosed respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, COPD, etc.) 6. Individuals who are unable to comply with the exercise program due to psychiatric diagnosis or communication difficulties