Yoga Practice Improves the Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Int J Yoga

Date 2017 May 27

PMID 28546682

Citations 12

Authors

Ashutosh Chauhan

Deepak Kumar Semwal

Satyendra Prasad Mishra

Ruchi Badoni Semwal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Yoga, an ancient Indian system of exercise and therapy is an art of good living or an integrated system for the benefit of the body, mind, and inner spirit. Regular practice of yoga can help to increase blood flow to the brain, reduce stress, have a calming effect on the nervous system, and greatly help in reducing hypertension.

Aim: Aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of 1-month yoga practice on body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure (BP).

Materials And Methods: The present study was conducted to determine the effect of yoga practice on 64 participants (age 53.6 ± 13.1 years) (experimental group) whereas the results were compared with 26 healthy volunteers (control group). We examined the effects of yoga on physiological parameters in a 1-month pilot study. Most of the participants were learner and practiced yoga for 1 h daily in the morning for 1 month. BMI and BP (systolic and diastolic) were studied before and after 1 month of yoga practice.

Results: Yoga practice causes decreased BMI (26.4 ± 2.5-25.22 ± 2.4), systolic BP (136.9 ± 22.18 mmHg to 133 ± 21.38 mmHg), and diastolic BP (84.7 ± 6.5 mmHg to 82.34 ± 7.6 mmHg). On the other hand, no significant changes were observed in BMI and BP of control group.

Conclusion: This study concludes that yoga practice has potential to control BMI and BP without taking any medication.

Citing Articles

A Randomized Controlled Trial in Obese Adults with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Examining the Impact of Short-term Integrated Naturopathy and Yoga Interventions on Testosterone, Oxidative Stress, and Mental Health.

Shetty B, Shetty G, Nanjeshgowda H, Shetty P Int J Yoga. 2025; 17(3):195-202.

PMID: 39959507 PMC: 11823550. DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_180_24.

Effects of Yogic Practices Synchronized With Bandha and Kumbhaka on Biological and Psychological Factors of Aging in COVID-19-Recovered Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Kumari A, Pal A, Dada R Cureus. 2024; 16(10):e71884.

PMID: 39559592 PMC: 11573461. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71884.

Impact of yoga-based interventions on cognitive and autonomic functions in major depressive disorder population.

Sharma S, Kacker S, Saboo N J Family Med Prim Care. 2024; 13(9):3948-3954.

PMID: 39464993 PMC: 11504740. DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_362_24.

Effects of yoga compared with health promotion on health-related quality of life in adults with post-COVID-19 condition: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Broden M, Welfordsson P, Niemi M, Diwan V, Shah K, Pattanadara V BMJ Open. 2024; 14(9):e085525.

PMID: 39266315 PMC: 11404200. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085525.

The psychosomatic impact of Yoga in medical education: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Maity S, Abbaspour R, Bandelow S, Pahwa S, Alahdadi T, Shah S Med Educ Online. 2024; 29(1):2364486.

PMID: 38861675 PMC: 11168339. DOI: 10.1080/10872981.2024.2364486.

References

Kearney P, Whelton M, Reynolds K, Muntner P, Whelton P, He J . Global burden of hypertension: analysis of worldwide data. Lancet. 2005; 365(9455):217-23. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)17741-1. View

Berrington de Gonzalez A, Hartge P, Cerhan J, Flint A, Hannan L, MacInnis R . Body-mass index and mortality among 1.46 million white adults. N Engl J Med. 2010; 363(23):2211-9. PMC: 3066051. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1000367. View

Gangadhar B, Varambally S . Integrating yoga in mental health services. Indian J Med Res. 2015; 141(6):747-8. PMC: 4525397. DOI: 10.4103/0971-5916.160685. View

Jaacks L, Gordon-Larsen P, Mayer-Davis E, Adair L, Popkin B . Age, period and cohort effects on adult body mass index and overweight from 1991 to 2009 in China: the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Int J Epidemiol. 2013; 42(3):828-37. PMC: 3733700. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyt052. View

Hart C, Tracy B . Yoga as steadiness training: effects on motor variability in young adults. J Strength Cond Res. 2008; 22(5):1659-69. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31818200dd. View

Madanmohan , Thombre D, Balakumar B, Nambinarayanan T, Thakur S, Krishnamurthy N . Effect of yoga training on reaction time, respiratory endurance and muscle strength. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1992; 36(4):229-33. View

Oken B, Kishiyama S, Zajdel D, Bourdette D, Carlsen J, Haas M . Randomized controlled trial of yoga and exercise in multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2004; 62(11):2058-64. DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000129534.88602.5c. View

Tekur P, Singphow C, Nagendra H, Raghuram N . Effect of short-term intensive yoga program on pain, functional disability and spinal flexibility in chronic low back pain: a randomized control study. J Altern Complement Med. 2008; 14(6):637-44. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2007.0815. View

Chaya M, Kurpad A, Nagendra H, Nagarathna R . The effect of long term combined yoga practice on the basal metabolic rate of healthy adults. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006; 6:28. PMC: 1564415. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-6-28. View

10.

Madanmohan , Mahadevan S, Balakrishnan S, Gopalakrishnan M, Prakash E . Effect of six weeks yoga training on weight loss following step test, respiratory pressures, handgrip strength and handgrip endurance in young healthy subjects. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009; 52(2):164-70. View

11.

Gauchard G, Jeandel C, Tessier A, Perrin P . Beneficial effect of proprioceptive physical activities on balance control in elderly human subjects. Neurosci Lett. 1999; 273(2):81-4. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00615-1. View

12.

GARFINKEL M, Schumacher Jr H . Yoga. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2000; 26(1):125-32, x. DOI: 10.1016/s0889-857x(05)70126-5. View

13.

Jarrett B, Bloch G, Bennett D, Bleazard B, Hedges D . The influence of body mass index, age and gender on current illness: a cross-sectional study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009; 34(3):429-36. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2009.258. View

14.

Telles S, Naveen V, Balkrishna A, Kumar S . Short term health impact of a yoga and diet change program on obesity. Med Sci Monit. 2009; 16(1):CR35-40. View

15.

Tudor-Locke C, Ainsworth B, Adair L, Du S, Popkin B . Physical activity and inactivity in Chinese school-aged youth: the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27(9):1093-9. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802377. View