Being full and feeling empty: Yoga as a pathway for recovery from depression, anxiety and eating disorders

International Conference on Restorative & Alternative Medicine

October 24-25, 2016 Chicago, USA

Shane McIver

Deakin University, Australia

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Altern Integr Med

Abstract :

Introduction: Whilst therapeutic applications of yoga are becoming popular, there is a paucity of research examining the potential for meditation-based therapies to alleviate the principal psychological correlates of binge eating disorder (BED). Objective: This presentation will focus on unpublished data from a broader study. This portion examines the efficacy of a 12- week yoga program for reducing depression and anxiety and increasing quality of life among a sample of overweight women with BED. Method: A two-group, repeated measures design, involving randomization to either a yoga program group (n=25) or waitlist control group (n=25) was conducted. Females aged between 25-63 years with a body mass index (BMI)>25, who met the DSM-IV classification criteria for BED were included. The introduction of a home-based yoga program, combined with weekly group practice sessions was held for one hour once a week for 12 weeks, in either a workplace or fitness centers setting. Outcome Measures: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the trait-form from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Quality of Life Index (QLI). Results: For the yoga group, reductions in depression and anxiety and increases in quality of life were statistically significant. The wait-list control group did not change significantly on either outcome measure. Conclusions: In conjunction with formal weekly sessions, home-based yoga programs are potentially efficacious as a modality for ameliorating psychological correlates of BED. Possible mechanisms explaining these improvements will also be discussed.

Biography :

Shane McIver is a Lecturer in Health Promotion at the School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia. His ongoing research interests include implementing and evaluating meditation-based approaches to health and wellbeing.

Email: shane.mciver@deakin.edu.au