Yoga Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Yoga, including details on benefits, health, treatment, back pain.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies by Overweight and Obese Adults.

Bertisch SM, Wee CC, McCarthy EP

[1] 1Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Osher Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA [2] 2Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Objective:Obesity is associated with higher health-care costs due, in part, to higher use of traditional health care. Few data are available on the relationship between obesity and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).Methods and Procedures:We analyzed data on CAM use from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Alternative Medicine Supplement (n = 31,044). We compared the use of CAM overall, within the past 12 months, between normal weight (BMI from 18 to <25), overweight (from 25 to <30), mildly obese (from 30 to <35), moderately obese (from 35 to <40), and extremely obese (>40) adults. For the primary analysis, our multivariable model was adjusted for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors. We performed additional analyses to explore the association of BMI and the use of seven CAM modalities.Results:We found that adults with obesity have lower prevalence of use of yoga therapy, and similar prevalence of use of several CAM modalities, including relaxation techniques, natural herbs, massage, chiropractic medicine, tai chi, and acupuncture, compared to normal-weight individuals. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors, adults with obesity were generally less likely to use most individual CAM modalities, although the magnitude of these differences were quite modest in many cases.Discussion:Even though adults with obesity have a greater illness burden and higher utilization of traditional medical care, adults with higher BMIs were no more likely to use each of the individual CAM therapies studied. Additional research is needed to improve our understanding of CAM use by adults with obesity.Obesity (2008) doi:10.1038/oby.2008.239.

Published 2 May 2008 in Obesity (Silver Spring).
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Articles on Yoga published 22 April 2008:

Menopause, the metabolic syndrome, and mind-body therapies.   Menopause.

Cardiovascular disease risk rises sharply with menopause, likely due to the coincident increase in insulin resistance and related atherogenic changes that together comprise the metabolic or insulin resistance syndrome, a cluster of metabolic and hemodynamic abnormalities strongly implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease. A growing body of research suggests that traditional mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong may offer safe and cost-effective ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Yoga published 10 April 2008:

A pilot study comparing the effects of mindfulness-based and cognitive-behavioral stress reduction.   J Altern Complement Med, 14(3): 251-8.

ABSTRACT Objectives: The objective of this pilot study was to compare the effects of two mind-body interventions: mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and cognitive-behavioral stress reduction (CBSR). Subjects: Fifty (50) subjects were recruited from the community and took part in MBSR (n = 36) and CBSR (n = 14) courses. Participants self-selected into MBSR or CBSR courses taught at different times. There were no initial differences between the MBSR and CBSR subjects on demographics, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Yoga published 8 April 2008:

Yoga during pregnancy: Effects on maternal comfort, labor pain and birth outcomes.   Complement Ther Clin Pract, 14(2): 105-15.

This study examined the effects of a yoga program during pregnancy, on maternal comfort, labor pain, and birth outcomes. A randomized trial was conducted using 74-primigravid Thai women who were equally divided into two groups (experimental and control). The yoga program involved six, 1-h sessions at prescribed weeks of gestation. A variety of instruments were used to assess maternal comfort, labor pain and birth outcomes. The experimental group was found to have higher levels of maternal ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Yoga published 18 March 2008:

Immediate Effect of Specific Nostril Manipulating Yoga Breathing Practices on Autonomic and Respiratory Variables.   Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback.

The effect of right, left, and alternate nostril yoga breathing (i.e., RNYB, LNYB, and ANYB, respectively) were compared with breath awareness (BAW) and normal breathing (CTL). Autonomic and respiratory variables were studied in 21 male volunteers with ages between 18 and 45 years and experience in the yoga breathing practices between 3 and 48 months. Subjects were assessed in five experimental sessions on five separate days. The sessions were in fixed possible sequences and subjects were ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Self-Management Strategies to Reduce Pain and Improve Function among Older Adults in Community Settings: A Review of the Evidence.   Pain Med.

Context. Self-management strategies for pain hold substantial promise as a means of reducing pain and improving function among older adults with chronic pain, but their use in this age group has not been well defined. Objective. To review the evidence regarding self-management interventions for pain due to musculoskeletal disorders among older adults. Design. We searched the Medline and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases to identify relevant articles for review ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Yoga published 17 March 2008:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and yoga for drug-refractory epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial.   Epilepsy Behav.

OBJECTIVE: There is a need for controlled outcome studies on behavioral treatment of epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and yoga in the treatment of epilepsy. METHODS: The design consisted of a randomized controlled trial with repeated measures (N=18). All participants had an EEG-verified epilepsy diagnosis with drug-refractory seizures. Participants were randomized into one of two groups: ACT or yoga. Therapeutic effects were measured ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Yoga published 13 March 2008:

Mind-body interventions during pregnancy.   J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 37(2): 165-75.

Objective: To examine published evidence on the effectiveness of mind-body interventions during pregnancy on perceived stress, mood, and perinatal outcomes. Data sources: Computerized searches of PubMed, Cinahl, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library. Study Selection: Twelve out of 64 published intervention studies between 1980 and February 2007 of healthy, adult pregnant women met criteria for review. Data extraction and synthesis: Studies were categorized by type of mind-body modality used. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Yoga published 4 March 2008:

Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Changes during Yoga Sessions: The Effects of Respiratory Exercises and Meditation Practices.   Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback.

The novelty of this study was to investigate the changes in cardiorespiratory and metabolic intensity brought about by the practice of pranayamas (breathing exercises of yoga) and meditation during the same hatha-yoga session. The technique applied was the one advocated by the hatha-yoga system. Nine yoga instructors-five females and four males, mean age of 44 +/- 11, 6, were subjected to analysis of the gases expired during three distinct periods of 30 min: rest, respiratory exercises and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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