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Yoga in the Management of Overweight and Obesity
- Source :
- American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 8:33-41
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- SAGE Publications, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Although yoga may help manage conditions comorbid with overweight and obesity, such as low back pain, whether yoga helps with weight loss or maintenance beyond that which can be achieved with diet and exercise remains unclear. A search of multiple databases through September 2012 was undertaken identifying peer-reviewed studies on yoga, meditation, mindfulness, obesity, and overweight. Studies on yoga and weight loss are challenged by small sample sizes, short durations, and lack of control groups. In addition, there is little consistency in terms of duration of formal group yoga practice sessions, duration of informal practices at home, and frequency of both. Studies do however suggest that yoga may be associated with weight loss or maintenance. Mechanisms by which yoga may assist with weight loss or maintenance include the following: (a) energy expenditure during yoga sessions; (b) allowing for additional exercise outside yoga sessions by reducing back and joint pain; (c) heightening mindfulness, improving mood, and reducing stress, which may help reduce food intake; and (d) allowing individuals to feel more connected to their bodies, leading to enhanced awareness of satiety and the discomfort of overeating. Thus, yoga appears promising as a way to assist with behavioral change, weight loss, and maintenance.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Mindfulness
business.industry
Health Policy
media_common.quotation_subject
education
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Alternative medicine
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Overweight
medicine.disease
Obesity
Low back pain
humanities
Weight loss
Joint pain
medicine
Physical therapy
Meditation
medicine.symptom
business
human activities
media_common
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15598284 and 15598276
- Volume :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........15c038c0b72320b28260a71504fcd0a6