Yogic Interventions for Weight Loss - A Narrative Review

Jump To References Section

Authors

  • Department of Food and Nutrition and Food Technology, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110 001 ,IN
  • Department of Food and Nutrition and Food Technology, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110 001 ,IN
  • Department of Food and Nutrition and Food Technology, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110 001 ,IN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21048/IJND.2024.61.1.35019

Keywords:

Yoga, long-term yoga, short-term yoga, weight loss, obesity, diet, mindfulness.

Abstract

Globally, obesity affects both high and low- income countries alike. A non-dietary or supplement-based complementary and alternative therapy for improving physical activity in combating this health disorder is yoga. Various forms of yoga have been reported to be beneficial for the holistic fitness of the mind and body, however, no comprehensive review on the combination of yoga and diet therapies’ effect on weight loss in otherwise healthy overweight/obese individuals is available. A narrative review of 10 articles (2010-2020), which met the inclusion criteria, highlighted that clinically beneficial therapies that have an impact on measures of obesity are physical activity and sustained balanced diet; long-term practice of yoga (~1.5 hours/day for ~12 weeks) with initial observed weight loss, has higher benefits when compared to short-term yoga (~1.5 hours/day for ≤1 week); the two types of yoga interventions discussed are suryanamaskara and Iyengar yoga/Kripalu yoga/hatha yoga. The promotion of mindfulness is beneficial in the nutrition practices as well as stress management, self-compassion and spiritual development. The review concluded that there is further scope of researching yoga practices with diet monitoring and nutrient analysis.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2024-03-01

How to Cite

M, S., Verma, L., & Lal, P. R. (2024). Yogic Interventions for Weight Loss - A Narrative Review. The Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, 61(1), 84–99. https://doi.org/10.21048/IJND.2024.61.1.35019
Received 2023-09-12
Accepted 2024-03-05
Published 2024-03-01

 

References

Anheyer, D., Koch, A.K., Thoms, M.S., Dobos, G. and Cramer, H. Yoga in women with abdominal obesity - Do lifestyle factors mediate the effect? Secondary analysis of a RCT. Complementary Therapies in Med., 2021, 60, 102741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102741

Sinha, S., Verma, L. and Nigam, S. Predictive equations for Indian women to calculate Body Fat Percent (BF%). Ann. Nutr. Metabol., 2017, 71, 1040.

Rshikesan, P.B., Subramanya, P. and Nidhi, R. Yoga practice for reducing the male obesity and weight related psychological difficulties - A randomized controlled trial. J. Clin. Diagn. Res., 2016, 10, OC22–OC28. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/22720.8940

Helble, M. and Francisco, K. The Imminent Obesity Crisis in Asia and the Pacific: First Cost Estimates, 2017.

Telles, S., Sharma, S.K., Singh, A., Kala, N., Upadhyay, V., Arya, J. and Balkrishna, A. Quality of life in yoga experienced and yoga naïve Asian Indian adults with obesity. J. Obesity, 2019, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9895074

Beverley, K.M., Donna, R.W. and Morton, J.M. Self-esteem and body esteem: effects of gender, age, and weight. J. App. Developmen. Psychol., 1996, 17, 321-346.

Donini, L.M., Merola, G., Poggiogalle, E., Lubrano, C., Gnessi, L., Mariani, S., Migliaccio, S. and Lenzi, A. Disability, physical inactivity, and impaired health-related quality of life are not different in metabolically healthy vs. unhealthy obese subjects. Nutri., 2016, 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/NU8120759

Dowd, J.B. and Zajacova, A. Long-term obesity and physical functioning in older Americans. Int. J. Obesity 2014, 39, 502-507. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.150

Tsiros, M.D., Buckley, J.D., Howe, P.R.C., Olds, T., Walkley, J., Taylor, L., Mallows, R., Hills, A.P., Kagawa, M. and Coates, A.M. Day-to-day physical functioning and disability in obese 10- to 13-year-olds. Pediatric Obesity, 2013, 8, 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.2047-6310.2012.00083.X

Batsis, J.A., Zbehlik, A.J., Barre, L.K., Bynum, J.P.W., Pidgeon, D. and Bartels, S.J. Impact of obesity on disability, function, and physical activity: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Scandinavian J. Rheumatol., 2015, 44, 495-502. https://doi.org/10.3109/03009742.2015.1021376

Shi, M. Der, Chao, J.K., Ma, M.C., Hao, L.J. and Chao, I.C. Factors associated with sex hormones and erectile dysfunction in male taiwanese participants with obesity. J. Sexual Med., 2014, 11, 230-239. https://doi.org/10.1111/JSM.12353

Philippou, C., Andreou, E., Menelaou, N., Hajigeorgiou, P. and Papandreou, D. Effects of diet and exercise in 337 overweight/obese adults. Hippokratia, 2012, 16, 46.

Palu, A.K., West, B.J. and Jensen, J. Noni-based nutritional supplementation and exercise interventions influence body composition. North American J. Med. Sci., 2011, 3, 552. https://doi.org/10.4297/NAJMS.2011.3552

Brinkley, T.E., Wang, X., Kume, N., Mitsuoka, H. and Nicklas, B.J. Caloric restriction, aerobic exercise training and soluble lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 levels in overweight and obese post-menopausal women. Int. J. Obesity, 2011, 35, 793-799. https://doi.org/10.1038/IJO.2010.199

Bryan, S., Parasher, R., Cahil, T. and Zipp, P.T.G.P. Yoga, mindful eating, and weight management. J. Nutr. Therapeutics, 2013, 2, 173-181. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2013.02.04.1

Sharpe, P.A., Blanck, H.M., Williams, J.E., Ainsworth, B.E. and Conway, J.M. Use of complementary and alternative medicine for weight control in the United States. J. Altern. Complem. Med. (New York, N.Y.), 2007, 13, 217-222. https://doi.org/10.1089/ACM.2006.6129

Ross, A., Brooks, A., Touchton-Leonard, K. and Wallen, G. A different weight loss experience: a qualitative study exploring the behavioral, physical, and psychosocial changes associated with yoga that promote weight loss. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Med., 2016, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2914745

Rioux, J. and Ritenbaugh, C. Narrative review of yoga intervention clinical trials including weight-related outcomes. ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, 2013, 19, 32-46. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236940547_Narrative_Review_of_Yoga_Intervention_Clinical_Trials_Including_Weight-related_Outcomes

Ross, A., Friedmann, E., Bevans, M. and Thomas, S. National survey of yoga practitioners: Mental and physical health benefits. Complementary Therapies in Med., 2013, 21, 313. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CTIM.2013.04.001

Ross, A., Friedmann, E., Bevans, M. and Thomas, S. Frequency of yoga practice predicts health: Results of a national survey of yoga practitioners. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, 2012, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/983258

Saraswati, N. and Swami. Gherand Samhita, 1997,

Mathewes and Donald, K. Measurement in physical Education. Saunders Company, 1978.

Valizadeh, H. Philosophy and training of of Yoga (in Persian), 1992.

Nautiyal, R. Effect of Surya Namaskar on weight loss in obese persons. Int. J. Sci. Consciousness, 2016, 2, 1-5. www.ijsc.net

Taimni, I. The Science of Yoga (12th ed.). The Theosophical Society, Adayar, 2010.

Iyenkar, B. The core of the yoga-sutras. Haper Thorosons London, 2012.

Udupa, K. Stress and its management. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2000.

Bernstein, A.M., Bar, J., Ehrman, J.P., Golubic, M. and Roizen, M.F. Yoga in the management of overweight and obesity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1559827613492097, 2013, 8, 33-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827613492097

Lemstra, M.E. and Rogers, M.R. Improving health-related reduction, quality of life through an evidence-based obesity program: The healthy weights initiative. J. Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 2016, 9, 103-109.

Pearl, R.L., Wadden, T.A., Tronieri, J.S., Berkowitz, R.I., Chao, A.M., Alamuddin, N., Leonard, S. M., Carvajal, R., Bakizada, Z.M., Pinkasavage, E., Gruber, K.A., Walsh, O.A. and Alfaris, N. Short and long-term changes in health-related quality of life with weight loss: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Obesity, 2018, 26, 985-991. https://doi.org/10.1002/OBY.22187

Ferraro, Z.M., Patterson, S. and Chaput, J. Unhealthy weight control practices: Culprits and clinical recommendations. Clini. Med. Insights: Endocrinol. Diabetes, 2015, 8, 7-11. https://doi.org/10.4137/CMed.s23060

Kelly-Weeder, S., Phillips, K., Leonard, K. and Veroneau, M. Binge eating and weight loss behaviors of overweight and obese college students. J. Am. Assoc. Nurse Practitioners, 2014, 26, 445-451.

MD, J., DH, R., CM, A., JD, A., AG, C., KA, D., FB, H., VS, H., JM, J., RF, K., CM, L., BE, M., CA, N., FX, P.S., J, S., VJ, S., TA, W., BM, W., SZ, Y. and GF, T. 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS guideline for the management of overweight and obesity in adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and The Obesity Society. Circulation, 2014, 129. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000437739.71477.EE

Campbell, W.W., Crim, M.C., Young, V.R. and Evans, W.J. Increased energy requirements and changes in body composition with resistance training in older adults. The Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1994, 60, 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1093/AJCN/60.2.167

Pandit, D.P., Upadhyah, A., Goyal, P. and Sharma, D. Effect of short term yoga on body weight, BMI, body fat percentage and blood pressure. Ind. J. Clin. Anatomy. Physiol., 2019, 6, 179-182. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijcap.2019.040

Nieuwenhuizen, A.G. and Rutters, F. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis in the regulation of energy balance. Physiol. Behavior, 2008, 94, 169-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYSBEH. 2007.12.011

Sharma, M. Yoga as an alternative and complementary approach for stress management: A systematic review, J. Evid. Based Complemen. Altern. Med., 2014 19, 59-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587213503344

Unick, J.L., Dunsiger, S.I., Bock, B.C., Sherman, S.A., Braun, T.D. and Wing, R.R. A preliminary investigation of yoga as an intervention approach for improving long-term weight loss: A randomized trial. PLoS ONE, 2022, 17, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263405

Elfhag, K. and Rössner, S. Who succeeds in maintaining weight loss? A conceptual review of factors associated with weight loss maintenance and weight regain. Obesity Rev., 2005, 6, 67-85. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1467-789X.2005.00170.X

Grilo, C.M., Shiffman, S. and Wing, R.R. Relapse crises and coping among dieters. J. Consulting and Clin. Psychol., 1989, 57, 488-495. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.57.4.488

Westenhoefer, J., Von Falck, B., Stellfeldt, A. and Fintelmann, S. Behavioural correlates of successful weight reduction over 3 y. Results from the Lean Habits Study. Int. J. Obesity., 2003, 28, 334-335. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802530

Iyengar, B.K.S., Iyengar, B.KS. NY: DK Publishing, 2014.

Braun, T.D., Park, C.L. and Conboy, L.A. Psychological well-being, health behaviors, and weight loss among participants in a residential, Kripalu yoga-based weight loss program. Int. J. Yoga Therapy, 2012, 22, 9-22. https://doi.org/10.17761/ijyt.22.1.y47k2658674t1212

Framson, C., Kristal, A.R., Schenk, J.M., Littman, A.J., Zeliadt, S. and Benitez, D. Development and validation of the mindful eating questionnaire. J. Am. Dietetic Assoc., 2009, 109, 1439-1444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2009.05.006

Bishop, S.R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N.D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z.V., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D. and Devins, G. Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clin. Psychol. Sci. Prac., 2004, 11, 230-241. https://doi.org/10.1093/CLIPSY.BPH077