Effect of yoga on weight reduction

Obesity is now considered as a serious public health problem and increasing at an alarming rate in developed and developing countries of the world. It is directly linked to lifestyle and diet, and has become a serious health issue for the urban population with the improving standard of living, physical inactivity and modern high calorie diet. Total 135 subjects within the age group 15-65yrs were grouped as i) yoga with diet group ii) only yoga group and iii) control group and advised to follow the yoga training schedule for 6 months. Subjects who assigned to the yoga with diet group, and only yoga group, yoga intervention comprised of Asanas, Pranayama, and Meditation, for about 1 hour a day and 5 days in a week. Control group did nothing only to maintain as usual daily living during the study. After 6 months study result shows statistically and clinically significant. The analysis has been done using STATA11.1, statistical software it was observed that body weight (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.1), Waist circumference (p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (p<0.01), fasting blood sugar (p<0.05) significantly decreased in Yoga with diet group in comparison to control as well as only yoga group. Only yoga group also shows improvement in comparison to control group. Yoga is beneficial in maintaining good health and wellbeing by regulating body weight, improving Biochemical parameters and helpful to overcome the obesity related complications as well as metabolic risk factor. Yoga could be beneficial to prevent or delayed onset of Type-2 diabetes and cardio vascular diseases.