Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Yoga in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Abstract

Purpose-This was a pilot project designed to assess the effect of individualized yoga treatment on eating disorder outcomes among adolescents receiving outpatient care for diagnosed eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified).Methods-50 girls and 4 boys, aged 11-21 years were randomized to an 8 week trial of standard care versus individualized yoga plus standard care. 27 were randomized to standard care and 26 to yoga plus standard care (attrition: n = 4). Standard care (every other week physician/dietician appointments) was required to meet ethical guidelines. The control group was offered yoga after study completion as an incentive to maintain participation. Outcomes evaluated at baseline, end of trial, and one month follow-up included: Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), Body Mass Index (BMI), Beck Depression Inventory, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Food Preoccupation questionnaire.Results-The yoga group demonstrated greater decreases in eating disordered symptoms. Specifically, the EDE scores decreased over time in the yoga group, while the control group showed some initial decline but then returned to baseline EDE levels at week 12. Food preoccupation was measured before and after each yoga session, and dropped significantly after all sessions. Both groups maintained current BMI levels and decreased in anxiety and depression over time.Individual Contributions: Dr. Carei designed the trial, wrote the study protocol, obtained institutional approval, implemented the protocol, completed statistical analysis, and contributed significantly to the authorship of this paper. Dr. Fyfe-Johnson implemented the study protocol, provided oversight of integrated treatments, oversaw data entry and coding, and contributed significantly to the authorship of this paper. Dr. Collette Breuner directed recruitment, facilitated institutional approval, oversaw ethical and research code compliance, and critically reviewed and edited this paper. Dr. Marshall provided oversight for study design and statistical methods, provided intellectual and academic feedback, and collaborated on the writing of this paper.Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access

Exercise and physical therapy help restore body and self in clients with severe anorexia nervosa

“…In less than four weeks, residential participants taking part in a multidimensional exercise programme (including some combination of Pilates, yoga, stretching, partner exercises, strength training, aerobic and balance activities) four times per week for one hour, and who were also given the opportunity to reflect on the experience before, during and after each session, reported reduced disordered thoughts, feelings and behaviours about exercise (Calogero and Pedrotty, 2004). An individualized yoga treatment programme for patients with eating disorders across diagnosis, revealed a short term reduction in clients´ preoccupation with food and in anxiety indicators (Carei et al, 2010). Worth noting is that such supervised exercise interventions seem to have no adverse effects on weight gain in these clients (e.g., Calogero and Pedrotty, 2004;Tokumura et al, 2003;Touyz et al, 1993;Thien et al, 2000).…”

Therapeutic Yoga: Symptom Management for Multiple Sclerosis

“…36 Yoga is classified as a form of CAM by the National Institutes of Health; the practice of yoga integrates the physical, mental, and spiritual components of an individual in order to improve health and well-being. 36 The past decade of research has demonstrated a variety of therapeutic benefits associated with the practice of yoga in treating many illnesses, chronic diseases, and disabilities, such as chronic pain, 36 high blood pressure, 37 autism spectrum disorder, 38 trauma, 39 Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, peripheral nervous system disorders, 10 fatigue and mood, 40,41 chronic insomnia, 42 depression, 43 heart attack and stroke, 36 and eating disorders, 44 as well as improved quality of life, 41 neuromuscular function, 45 flexibility, 46 and better physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness among patients with cancer. 47 For example, Carson and colleagues 47 looked at the effects of a novel yoga intervention-the Yoga Awareness Program-among 13 women with metastatic breast cancer.…”

Role of Yoga and Meditation in Prevention of Obesity.

“…Both these techniques have been reported to reduce stress and anxiety in subjects of the intervention group significantly more than that in the control group, by several authors. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] (Table 1) Researchers have reported improvement in eating behavior following intervention with yoga and meditation. They have also shown significant reduction of eating disorder and Binge Eating Disorder.…”

“…They have also shown significant reduction of eating disorder and Binge Eating Disorder. 8,[10][11][12][13] (Table 2) Following courses of yoga and meditation reduction in outcomes under study viz. alcohol use, craving for alcohol and dependence on alcohol, was reported.…”

“…The criteria for exclusion were:  studies other than Randomized Controlled Trial  multiple interventions given simultaneously to study group 339  control groups receiving some other intervention Finally 15 articles were eligible to be included for review. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Data was extracted from the selected articles and sorted according to outcomes studied and arranged in tables in chronological sequence. Though inclusion criteria were kept as publications in past 50 years, only 2 studies published in the last millennium were eligible to be included.…”