Yoga for Obesity

Title of the Study : Study on the effect of specific Yoga Practices on obesity with special consideration for its related complications like Diabetes, High B.P, Cholesterol, Triglycerides.

The Institution where study was conducted : The study was conducted by Ghantali Mitra Mandal , Thane at Sri Ma Vidyalaya, Ghodbunder Road, Thane.

Name of authors : Mr Vikas Gokhale, Dr. Ajit Oak, Mrs. Abha Sathe, Dr. Sandeep Mulye, Mr. Yashwant Joshi, Mrs. Sushama Saundattikar, , Mrs. Manisha Kale, Mr. Rajesh Iyer, Mr. Shyam Pendse.

Background : Ghantali Mitra Mandal has been conducting classes for past three year at the venue. Obesity is the lifestyle related problem faced by many. Considering the study done by Prashanti Kutiram as the base we designed the program on request from many of the interested participants and decided to conduct the study. Dr. Nitin Patankar and his Biospace Machine helped in eliminating the manual errors while taking the physical parameters like BMI, Waist- Hip Ratio, Body Water Mass & Body Fat Mass.

Method: A camp was conducted for obese at Thane, Maharashtra. The duration was six weeks.
Specific dynamic yoga practice along with routine yoga practices were taught to the participants and practised by the participants for one and half hour every day.The medical parameters considered for the study were- Body Mass Index, Waist- Hip Ratio, Peak Flow Rate, Blood Pressure, Lipid Profile, Biospace Machine Parameters. Pre and post camp measurement of these parameters was done for each participant. No individual diet plan was recommended.

Results:
Statistically Significant changes were noticed which are as follows

• Weight recorded before and after the camp showed significant reduction. This weight loss is due to loss in Body Fat Mass and not due to water loss as indicated by constant Body Water Mass parameter.
• Abdominal Obesity shows significant reduction
• Reduction in waist and hip measurement to certain percentage in each and every participant.
• Reduction or maintaining the Blood Pressure
• Significant Reduction in Blood Sugar Fasting, Serum Cholesterol, LDL, VLDL Cholesterol

These results were observed in spite of the fact that no participant was given individual diet plan.

Conclusion: The camp laid more emphasis on dynamic yogic practices along with routine yogic practices to control obesity rather than prevalent principles of diet control and calorie loss. The above discussion and statistical findings show that yogic way can be effective way of dealing with obesity.