Therapeutic actions of Yoga – part 3

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could eat as much as we want to without worrying about our weight and without lifting up heavy weights? I know I’d love to find a way that would help me lose weight keeping me buoyant and happy at the same time! Yoga can do that too!

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980, with 16% of children aged 6-19 considered to be overweight.
In a recent study, teenage students practicing Yoga and breathing exercises on a regular basis shed an average of 6 pounds (a pound is 2.2 kg) and reduced their BMI (body mass index) by nearly 6%.

The research was led by Anand Shetty, of Hampton University in Yorktown, Va.

"I recommend 30 minutes of pranayama and Yoga, three to four times a week," Dr. Shetty said in an American Heart Association news release.

At the beginning of the study, average BMI was calculated to be 22.8 in the Yoga group and 22.3 in the comparison group. This range of BMI values is considered normal for adults but overweight for teenagers since they’re still in their growing stages.

For the present study, only the students with BMI greater than 22 were selected.

By the end of the study, the results obtained showed that loss of weight was 6 pounds and loss of BMI was 1.3 points overall.
A possible reason for the weight reduction is the contraction of the abdomen during the Yoga and breathing exercises.

Mr. Shetty didn't study stomach size but suggests future research on the relationship between stomach size and hunger, as well as Yoga's effects on brain function, feelings of fullness, and hormones related to metabolism (sic).

References:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/524845
http://www.obesitydiscussion.com/forums/exercise-and-weight-loss-studies...