Effect of short term yoga on body weight, BMI, body fat percentage & blood pressure

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Original Article

Author Details : Dnyanesh P. Pandit, Amit Upadhyah*, Pawan Goyal, Diwakar Sharma

Volume : 6, Issue : 2, Year : 2019

Article Page : 179-182

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijcap.2019.040

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Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Obesity and hypertension contribute to increased morbidity and mortality in many diseases. Yoga therapy is a multifunctional exercise modality involving a lifestyle change with numerous benefits. Benefits of long term yoga in controlling obesity and hypertension are well documented. The objective of this study was to study the short-term impact of a brief lifestyle intervention based on yoga on body weight, BMI, body fat percentage & blood pressure.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at a non-residential one week long yoga camp and involved 51 males and 64 females aged between 18-60 years. Participants were expected to be on a homemade lacto-vegetarian diet and advised to restrict sugar, salt and fat intake. The protocol of Yogatherapy included warmup exercises, pranayams, backward, forward and side bending & twisting asanas followed by shavasana and meditation. The participants underwent 1.5 hours daily yoga program for seven days under supervision of certified yoga professionals. Pre and post camp parameters were assessed by recording body weight, height, body fat percentage, body fat mass systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure. Student T test was used for statistical analysis.
Results: There was decrease in mean body weight (by 1.25 & 1.37 kg), BMI (by 0.46 & 0.57), body fat mass (by 0.73 & 0.94 kg), body fat percentage (by 0.79 & 0.61%), systolic blood pressure (by 1 & 4.3 mmHg) & diastolic blood pressure (by 0.4 & 3.1 mmHg) in males & females respectively. All the observations were statistically significant except the changes in systolic & diastolic BP in males.
Conclusion: A seven day yoga intervention does cause some reduction in weight, body fat mass, body fat percentage, BMI, less so in systolic and diastolic blood pressures, but regular yoga for longer durations may be required for tangible, sustained reduction in these parameters to benefit the individual.

Keywords: Short term yoga, Obesity, Body fat percentage, Hypertension.

How to cite : Pandit D P, Upadhyah A, Goyal P, Sharma D, Effect of short term yoga on body weight, BMI, body fat percentage & blood pressure. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2019;6(2):179-182

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