Disordered eating behaviours and correlates in yoga practitioners: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: Yoga has been increasingly used as a complementary therapy for eating disorders. However, it is still not clear whether yoga is effective in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, as some studies suggest that yoga practitioners show elevated levels of disordered eating behaviours. The goal of this systematic review is, thus, to analyse the occurrence of disordered eating behaviours and correlates in yoga practitioners.Method: PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were used. Search was conducted in several databases and specific journals.Results: Twelve articles, all cross-sectional, were identified, following PRISMA guidelines.Results across studies were inconsistent. Yoga practice was usually associated with healthier eating behaviours, lower disordered eating symptoms, and higher positive body image and body satisfaction, suggesting that yoga practitioners may be at a lower risk of developing eating disorders. However, other studies suggested that a high dosage of yoga practice may be associated with a higher prevalence of disordered eating behaviours.Conclusions: As yoga is increasingly used as therapy for eating disorders, understanding the relationship between yoga dosage and disordered eating behaviours is critical to guide treatment recommendations and establish yoga as a valuable complementary therapy.

Yoga practice among ethnically/racially diverse emerging adults: Associations with body image, mindful and disordered eating, and muscle‐enhancing behaviors

“…Furthermore, some longitudinal and intervention studies have suggested that yoga may be effective in improving body image and disordered eating behaviors (Halliwell et al, 2019; Neumark‐Sztainer, MacLehose, et al, 2018; Ariel‐Donges et al, 2019; Cox et al, 2017; McIver, O'Halloran, & McGartland, 2009; Brennan et al, 2020). Although findings do not consistently show the benefits of yoga (Domingues & Carmo, 2019; Ostermann et al, 2019), we are not aware of research findings showing that yoga can be harmful in terms of worsening these outcomes.…”

“…The practice of yoga has been shown to be associated with a number of positive physical and emotional health outcomes (25)(26)(27)(28)(29). Reviews of research examining the relationships between practicing yoga and body image, disordered eating behaviors, and eating disorders, suggest that yoga may be bene cial, although associations tend to be modest and are not always consistent across studies (16,(30)(31)(32)(33). For example, in a mixed-methods pilot study examining a yoga-based intervention conducted within an eating disorders treatment center, participants described many positive changes to their body image as a result of their yoga practice (34).…”

“…The practice of yoga has been shown to be associated with a number of positive physical and emotional health outcomes (Bussing, Michalsen, Khalsa, Telles, & Sherman, 2012; Macy, Jones, Graham, & Roach, 2018; Maroik, Hazari, & Mondal, 2017; McCall, Ward, Roberts, & Heneghan, 2013; Jeter, Slutsky, Singh, & Khalsa, 2015). Research specifically examining the relationships between yoga and body image, disordered eating behaviors, and eating disorders, suggests that yoga may be beneficial, although associations tend to be modest and are not always consistent across studies (Neumark‐Sztainer, 2014; Domingues & Carmo, 2019; Ostermann, Vogel, Boehm, & Cramer, 2019; Scime, Cook‐Cottone, Kane, & Watson, 2006; Klein & Cook‐Cottone, 2013; Diers, Rydell, Watts, & Neumark‐Stzainer, 2020; Kramer & Cuccolo, 2020; Pacanowski, Diers, Crosby, Mackenzie, & Neumark‐Stzainer, 2020; Halliwell, Dawson, & Burkey, 2019; Neumark‐Sztainer, MacLehose, Watts, Pacanowski, & Eisenberg, 2018). In a qualitative study, when young adults practicing yoga were asked about the impact of yoga on their body image, the vast majority discussed the positive impact of yoga (Neumark‐Sztainer, Watts, & Rydell, 2018).…”

Wie sollte Yoga in der Therapie der Anorexia nervosa ausgeführt werden? Eine qualitative Pilotstudie zu hilfreich erlebten Yoga-Strategien aus Sicht von Patientinnen

“…Dennoch ist zu beachten, dass Yoga in der Therapie der AN zu unerwünschten Nebenwirkungen führen könnte [23]. So könnte der Vergleich mit anderen, die innere kritische Stimme, aber auch eine zu häufige Yoga-Praxis oder zu starke Selbstdisziplin die Essstörungsymptomatik negativ beeinflussen [14,24,25].…”

Yoga Practice Among Ethnically/Racially Diverse Emerging Adults: Associations with Body Image, Mindful and Disordered Eating, and Muscle-Enhancing Behaviors

“…The practice of yoga has been shown to be associated with a number of positive physical and emotional health outcomes (25)(26)(27)(28)(29). Reviews of research examining the relationships between practicing yoga and body image, disordered eating behaviors, and eating disorders, suggest that yoga may be bene cial, although associations tend to be modest and are not always consistent across studies (16,(30)(31)(32)(33). For example, in a mixed-methods pilot study examining a yoga-based intervention conducted within an eating disorders treatment center, participants described many positive changes to their body image as a result of their yoga practice (34).…”