Management of Obesity With Yoga: A Review

Management of Obesity With Yoga: A Review

Shirley Telles, Sachin Kumar Sharma
Copyright: © 2018 |Pages: 18
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-2788-6.ch011
OnDemand:
(Individual Chapters)
Available
$37.50
Current Special Offers
No Current Special Offers
TOTAL SAVINGS: $37.50

Abstract

A number of experimental studies have been carried out to assess the effectiveness of yoga to manage obesity. This review (1) examined studies assessing the effects of yoga practices on obesity and (2) graded them according to standard grading methods. Fifteen studies were reviewed of which 6 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The six RCTs had a moderately good rating (70.6 to 88.0 percent). Nonetheless this review showed that there are inadequate studies which have adequate sample sizes, rigorous study designs and conduct a long term follow up, to conclude that yoga can play a definite role in weight management. Nonetheless the evidence is encouraging though future studies should be designed more rigorously.
Chapter Preview
Top

Yoga And Weight Management

Yoga is an ancient Indian comprehensive lifestyle intervention which includes physical activity in the form of specific yoga postures (asanas) and voluntarily regulated breathing techniques (pranayamas), meditation, dietary changes and philosophical principles (Yadav, Magan, M. Mehta, N. Mehta, & Mahapatra, 2012). The popularity of yoga is rapidly increasing and the practice is considered relatively safe for persons with obesity. This is because several yoga practices including yoga postures (asanas), regulated breathing techniques (pranayamas) and meditation have been modified for use in therapy (Cramer et al., 2015; Jeter, Slutsky, Singh, & Khalsa, 2015). Hence yoga practices can be modified so as to be safely undertaken by persons who are obese and often unable to undertake most forms of exercise. A number of studies have been carried out to assess the efficacy of yoga for the management of obesity.

Complete Chapter List

Search this Book:
Reset