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The Power of Pilates
Disturbing statistics reveal that obesity is a growing epidemic among adolescent girls ages 12-19 years old. Walker, a pediatric doctor, completed a study on the growing trend of obese children that concerns many pediatrtions. She included a recent survey conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination that showed that girls between 12-19 are overweight or at risk for being overweight (Walker par. 2). The reason behind the concern is the reported complications of overweight teens. She states: "Psychosocial complications for overweight in children and adolescents include social stigmatization, peer teasing, depression, body dissatisfaction, and less than optimal self-esteem (Walker par. 2). Carrying extra weight effects more than just physical implications. Teens have emotional and psychological influences to combat. This study is an eye opener, not just for pediatricians, but other people who have an influence on a youth's mental and physical well-being, such as parents, teachers, and coaches. Pilates, a method of exercises that utilize the mind to control muscular movements, is recently the focus of various studies to prove that Pilates can help overweight teenage girls lose excessive fat, motivate an active lifestyle, and improve self-esteem, all casualties of adolescent obesity.
As obesity increases, studies show what is considered an exercise for adult women, Pilates is introduced to the younger population, specifically teenage girls who are clinically diagnosed as obese or at risk of obesity. What distinguishes Pilates from other forms of exercise is the positive effect on overweight teens' personal well-being. A study directed to Pilates instructors demonstrated a link between Pilates and high school girls dealing with weight issues. Pilates is recognized by educated scientists and pediatric doctors as a type of mind-body class that "offer a framework for helping students be in touch with their bodies in a healthy way" (Szetner 276). Pilates teaches the fundamental principle of mind-body connection. As a result, teens become aware of how their body moves and develop a healthy relationship with their body and mind. Sztainer revealed that 36% of teen girls who regularly participate in Pilates were less likely dissatisfied with their bodies than those who participated in other activities (280). This is an important fact to defend that Pilates has an emotional and physical affect on youths. When a teenage girl establishes a healthy relationship with her body, her overall well-being improves and obesity levels may decline.
There are different forms of exercise, but one must keep in mind the special needs of an overweight client. Some vigorous exercises may be unsafe for teens to participate in if they are just beginning a workout program, as cautioned by physical therapist Dr. Avery D. Faigenbaum. He explained that a coach or teacher wouldn't develop a program designed for fit, athletic kids as he would for an inactive teen because " it is always better to underestimate the physical abilities of a participant rather than overestimate them and risk negative consequences, e.g. dropout or injury" (Faigenbaum 5). Certain vigorous moves, such as running, jumping, or plyometrics could discourage an overweight teen who can not do those things, or even injure them, so they need to at first start off with exercises that are easy on their joints. Dr. Jago highlights "Pilates is a series of low impact muscle contraction exercises (Jago par. 2). Exercise should be beneficial, not detrimental. If a teen is discouraged, she may dropout and the obesity cycle continues and she will have to deal with future consequences.
Pilates recently has gained popularity among adults in the United States, but the principles were developed by Joseph Pilates in 1912. Jospeph Pilates called his method Contrololgy and developed eight principles of concentration, centering, breathing, control, precision, flowing movement, isolation, and routine. Incorporating these eight principles in a routine not only exercise the body by also simultaneously exercising the mind (19). It takes time and skill to master the principles, but by regular practice, the meditative effect slowly seeps its way in to the subconscious and the entire body and mind become more energized after the exercise routine" (20). These principles can improve the way of life of a teenage girl dealing with the grim results of being obese.
Being overweight has many consequences. KidsHealth, a nonprofit organization devoted to teens' health, explained dire consequences of obesity. A team of medical experts reported that being overweight is influenced by physical inactivity that increases a teen's risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status (Jago 21). Diseases that once plagued adults are now seen in young teenage girls. put the damage can be reversed. These health risks can lower if a healthy weight is maintained by exercise (Jago 22). Pilates is a little known exercise that can work against the forewarned health risk of obesity.
Pilates be a preventive means of combating obesity related illnesses. Researchers funded b the USDA wanted to find innovated ways for teenage girls to increase their physical activity and improve their body composition. After assigning 31 girls to 4 weeks of Pilates, they concluded: "Girls enjoyed Pilates, and participation for 4 weeks lowered BMI percentile. Pilates holds promise as a means of reducing obesity" (Jago 177). Although Pilates is an international popular activity among adult women, personal accounts of teens also benefit from the fat reducing attributes of regular attending classes. Teens who are already overweight also benefit from Pilates. "Small changes were also detected in the BMI percentiles of the heavier girls, a significant reduction in their BMI percentiles might be achieved with the increased exposure to the program (Jago 179). Because teens enjoy an activity, they are more inclined to stick with it, thus losing and maintaining unwanted pounds.
Although Pilates is enjoyable, it is difficult to motivate teens to try something new, especially if they are overweight. Being active is recognized by the government as an important aspect of life. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people aged 12- 19 years old should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily, however, only 18% of high school students had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity, and only 33% attended physical education class daily (CDC par. 3). The nation is deficient in meeting the daily recommendation for physical activity. Mary Gavin of the KidsHealth organization admits getting them to move off the coach is no easy task. "It's a challenge to encourage physical activity in a technology-loving teen, who has a cell phone in one hand and a computer mouse in the other. But being active is very important during these years" (Gavin 166). During the years that matter the most for developement, teens pass it by without challenging their muscles. Teens choose a lifestyle governed by technology because it's more fun than exercise, but once given a chance, Pilates can be just as fun.
Who likes to do something they don't like? In the study mentioned previously were surprised to find that Pilates not only helped lower body mass, but was an enjoyable way of doing it, according to the study by Preventive medicine. "Participants (12-17 year old girls) enjoyed Pilates and attended regularly suggesting that Pilates might prove to be a useful means of increasing activity and thereby curbing the obesity epidemic" (Jago 179). A corresponding study on the physical benefits of Pilates agreed. The study by Kloubec suggests that individuals can improve their muscular endurance and flexibility using relatively low-intensity Pilates exercises that do not require equipment or a high degree of skill and are easy to master and use within a personal fitness routine" (Kloubec 661). Teenage girls can challenge their core muscles without realizing they are working out. It is highly likely that once they step away from the computer, girls will participate more frequently in a physical activity they enjoy, such as Pilates. Not only will they enjoy the challenge, but they will fell better about themselves too.
In a body-obsessed world, low self esteem is prevalent among overweight girls. A report by Walker states that age, gender, and race plays an important role in self-esteem. They reported that girls have "lower levels of self-esteem compared to overweight boys. Specifically, at 13-14 years, overweight white and Hispanic females reported lower levels of self-esteem than their nonoverweight counterparts (Walker 7, 8). Overweight girls may become the target of teasing, name calling, or isolation from the peers. Dr. Gavin observed as pediatrician that "as a result of social rejection, a child who is overweight may develop a negative self-image, which can undermine his or her feelings of self-worth and self confidence" (Gavin 21). If "rejected" by other teens because of their weight, destroys the teen's view of self. The mental and emotional challenges of an overweight teen are applied in Pilates to develop inner self-worth and confidence.
The Pilates Method teaches teens to connect their mind to movements, an effective approach revealed by studies to improve low self esteem in depressed girls. One of the eight principles of Pilates is connecting the mind to muscle to control movements. "Focusing on the control of a movement, the mind and body works together as a whole, developing, balance, coordination, confidence and outer freedom" (Herman 13). A bullied teen may lack control in her environment, but once she learns how to control the way her bodies moves, she develops a sense of accomplishment, confidence and freedom from the negativity dwelling within. Doubts of self worth can be corrected with The many psychological, behavioral, and physical benefits participants experience are attributed to the practices of incorporating mind-body activities, such as Pilates (Sztainer 278). Not only does self-esteem influence the weight of a teen, but also her physical surroundings.
Social barriers discourage physical activity among teens, but with education from the caregivers and teachers, Pilates can be introduced to underprivileged teens. Studies show that overweight teen girls are often the product of their environment, race, gender and social status. Children with obese mothers, low family incomes, and lower cognitive stimulation have significantly elevated risks of developing obesity, independent of other demographic and socioeconomic factors (Strauss 33). Sadly, excessive weight gain targets a specific population of young, underprivileged girls. A series of surveys conducted by Davis revealed" that inactivity increased from grades 9 to 12 and was higher in black youths than in non-Hispanic white youths and in girls than in boys" (Davis 10). Although a teenage girl may live in poverish neighborhoods, she doesn't have to allow her social status be a barrier to become a healthy adult.
Because of the low cost it takes to operate a Pilates class, those responsible of raising a teenager can initiate classes in their neighborhoods. To address these challenges, children's health care providers can support efforts to preserve and to enhance parks as areas for physical activity, inform local development initiatives regarding the inclusion of walking and bicycle paths, and promote families' use of local physical activity options by making information and suggestions about physical activity alternatives available in their offices (Davis 7). Adults should not allow their lack of monetary means as an obstacle of providing accessible physical activity for teens. Pilates doesn't require any special equipment, clothes, and can be done anywhere, even outside making it low cost and affordable for budgets to implement in neighborhoods or schools with limited means to provide efficient physical activity (Jago 179). Lack of physical activity in a controlled, systematic routine can lead to teens overeat as way of dealing with their personal circumstances.
When the majority thinks of eating disorders, they may only think of anorexia or bulimia, however, overeating is clinically diagnosed as an eating disorder. Researchers are finally discovering that obesity and eating disorders are related to each other. Haines provided evidence in a controlled survey that high prevalence of obesity, eating disorders and disordered eating among teens are linked, thus eating disorder experts are finding ways to prevent these disorders (Haines 52). A teen may seek solace in food and demonstrate an uncontrolled desire to consume large amounts of food. Haines continues:
Many of these factors, including dieting, body dissatisfaction and teasing, can lead to increased weight gain and obesity. Thus, the effectiveness of obesity prevention programs may be improved by including messages that address these risk factors, in addition to the typical obesity prevention messages of increased physical activity and improved dietary intake. Interventions that use this more integrated approach may also have the added benefit of reducing the risk of eating disorders among youth (522).
Physical activity incorporating both the mind and body is one way researchers use as part of the treatment services for a teen who is diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Many eating disorder treatment programs now include mind-body activities. Small studies are conducted to defend the power of Pilates. These studies support that Pilates can help alleviate eating and weight-related concerns. (Sztainer 276) Relying on food to ease anxieties becomes a pattern in a teen life, like a drug, but Pilates provides the teen mental and physical release to break away from set patterns. Discovering a way to piece a broken teen's mental chaos encourages the Pilates instructor to adhere to the individual needs of the participants. The research findings helps the Pilates instructor to recognize and that an overweight teen may be engaging "engaging in disordered-eating behaviors" and need to be trained on "how to help their students feel good in their bodies and avoid disordered-eating behaviors" (Sztainer 280). With the supervision of trained professionals, supplementing Pilates in treatment for eating disorders can be beneficial.
In conclusion, studies have shown that Pilates can help overweight teens lead a healthier life. Teen girls will lose and maintain weight lose, become more active, not become a victim of social status, and have higher self-esteem. The action is for caregivers and fitness and health professionals to introduce the teen to the benefits of Pilates.