Yoga in Treatment of Eating Disorders

Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 1

Conditions: Eating Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Yoga

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00870753

2.2006.1243

Details and patient eligibility

About

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

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age 18 or above
• DSM-IV Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa or Eating disorders not otherwise specified

Exclusion criteria

• serious medical complications
• psychosis
• suicidal behavior

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Yoga

Experimental group

Description:

90 min hatha yoga 2 times per week for 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Yoga

Controls

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group are offered the yoga intervention after finishing the study