Twelve Weeks of Yoga or Nutritional Advice for Centrally Obese Adult Females

Abstract

Background: Central obesity is associated with a higher risk of disease. Previously yoga reduced the BMI and waist circumference (WC) in persons with obesity. Additional anthropometric measures and indices predict the risk of developing diseases associated with central obesity. Hence the present study aimed to assess the effects of 12 weeks of yoga or nutritional advice on these measures. The secondary aim was to determine the changes in quality of life (QoL) given the importance of psychological factors in obesity.Material and Methods: Twenty-six adult females with central obesity in a yoga group (YOG) were compared with 26 adult females in a nutritional advice group (NAG). Yoga was practiced for 75 min/day, 3 days/week and included postures, breathing practices and guided relaxation. The NAG had one 45 min presentation/week on nutrition. Assessments were at baseline and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc comparisons. Age-wise comparisons were with t-tests.Results: At baseline and 12 weeks NAG had higher triglycerides and VLDL than YOG. Other comparisons are within the two groups. After 12 weeks NAG showed a significant decrease in WC, hip circumference (HC), abdominal volume index (AVI), body roundness index (BRI), a significant increase in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. YOG had a significant decrease in WC, sagittal abdominal diameter, HC, BMI, WC/HC, a body shape index, conicity index, AVI, BRI, HDL cholesterol, and improved QoL. With age-wise analyses, in the 30–45 years age range the YOG showed most of the changes mentioned above whereas NAG showed no changes. In contrast for the 46–59 years age range most of the changes in the two groups were comparable.Conclusions: Yoga and nutritional advice with a diet plan can reduce anthropometric measures associated with diseases related to central obesity, with more changes in the YOG. This was greater for the 30–45 year age range, where the NAG showed no change; while changes were comparable for the two groups in the 46–59 year age range. Hence yoga may be especially useful for adult females with central obesity between 30 and 45 years of age.Trial registration: (CTRI/2018/05/014077).

Effects of Continuous Yoga on Body Composition in Obese Adolescents

“…The sample size determination was calculated from the formula N (each group) = ( r + 1) ( Zα /2 + Z 1 − β )2 σ 2/rd2 [ 14 – 16 ], where Zα is the normal deviate at a level of significance ( Zα is 1.96 for 5%) and Z 1 − β is the normal deviate at 1 − β % power with β % of type II error (0.84 at 80% power). R = n 1/ n 2 is the ratio of the sample size required for 2 groups, which generally creates equal sample sizes for 2 groups.…”

“…Yoga is one such intervention, with studies reporting long-term adherence and benefits in various health conditions, including obesity. The various postures of yoga, especially forward bending, twisting and backward bending, help reduce fat near the abdomen, hips, and other areas [ 14 ]. Therefore, yoga is a solution for a healthy lifestyle because the practice of yoga is a complete package with wonderful cardiovascular, dynamic workouts that do not require any machines or much space [ 15 ].…”

Quality of Life in Yoga Experienced and Yoga Naïve Asian Indian Adults with Obesity

“…The quality of life was assessed using the Moorehead–Ardelt quality of life questionnaire II [21]. The questionnaire has been used to assess the quality of life in overweight and obese persons in India [16, 19], where the present study was carried out. In addition, the questionnaire is not culture sensitive [22] and has been used in different countries to assess the quality of life in obese persons [22, 23].…”

“…Yoga is one such intervention with studies reporting long-term adherence and benefits in various health conditions including obesity [16, 17]. Effects of yoga on the quality of life were seen in a single-arm interventional study on 279 overweight and obese Asian Indian persons of both sexes aged between 20 and 60 years who showed a significant improvement in physical, psychological, and environmental domains of the quality of life based on the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instruments (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, after 10 days of a yoga-based lifestyle intervention [18].…”

The Effect of Respiratory Combined Group Exercises on The Physical Activity Level in Obese Women

“…Obez kadınlarla yapılan bir çalışmada, 8 haftalık aerobik egzersiz programının solunum fonksiyonlarında artışla sonuçlandığı bildirilmiştir (6). Obez bireylerde fiziksel aktivitiye düzenli katılım ile solunum fonksiyonlarında iyileşme, VKİ'de azalma görülmektedir (7,8).…”