Yoga in Treatment of Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders, yoga, body awareness, depression, anxiety

Purpose: to examine effects of hatha yoga in treatment of eating disorders. Methods: Participants: patients with DSM-IV Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified will be invited to participate in this study. Exclusion criteria will be age under 18, serious medical complications, psychosis or increased risk of suicide. Design: randomized controlled single-blinded trial. Intervention: 2 x 90 min weekly group sessions for 12 weeks with hatha yoga. Main outcome measure: reduction in Eating Disorders Examination score. Secondary outcome measures: reduction in body dissatisfaction, depression and anxiety

For the last years, yoga has become a popular body-mind form of exercise in western countries (Daubenmier, 2005). Yoga has shown good effects on increasing muscle strength, flexibility and stability, in addition studies have found reduced stress level, improved mood and breathing (Astin et al., 2003; Gimbel, 1998b; Granath et al., 2006; Lavey et al., 2005; Manjunatha et al., 2005b; Netz & Lidor, 2003a; Telles & Naveen, 1997b; Yadav et al., 2005b). Previous research have shown a tendency for persons practicing yoga improving body awareness and body sensitivity, and reduction of body dissatisfaction (Daubenmier, 2005). In addition, two studies have examined yoga in treatment of binge eating disorder (Daubenmier, 2005; Gimbel, 1998a). Results showed reduction in number of binge eating episodes in the intervention group compared to the control group. No available studies have examined effect of yoga in treatment of the eating disorders types Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.

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