Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: February | Volume: 3 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 24-27
Effect of Pranayama on Body Mass Index in Young Medical Students
Patil Smita V1, Gaikwad Pandurang B2, Suvarna T. Jadhav3, Nilima R. Patil4, Vinayak B. Gaikwad5
1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Dental College & Hospital, Sangli.
2Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Prakash Institute of Medical Science & Research Islampur, Dist. Sangli (MS).
3Assistant Professor, Dept of Biochemistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Dental College & Hospital, Sangli.
4Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Dental College & Hospital, Sangli.
5Statistician Cum Tutor, Dept. of Community Medicine, B.K.L Walawalkar, Rural Medical Collage.
Corresponding Author: Patil Smita V.
ABSTRACT
Background: Association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and cardiovascular diseases has been consistently observed, but yet it is not clearly understood, possibly because of interactions with other influencing factors. One unresolved question is whether there is a linear relationship.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of pranayama on BMI in young medical students.
Materials & methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted on 60 young volunteers (42- male, 18- female) of age group 17-20years, to study the effect of pranayama on BMI.). Anthropometric parameters like height (cm), weight (Kg) were recorded. BMI was calculated using formula, BMI = Wt (kilograms)/Ht 2 (meters)before and after 4th, 8th, & 12th week of pranayama practice. ANOVA and Post hoc Tukey’s test was applied for statistical analysis and p-value <0.05 was considered the level of significance.
Results: Mean BMI Before pranayama practice was 21.657 ± 3.01. There was significant decrease in BMI (20.998 ± 2.76) after 12th week of pranayama practice. There was no significant change in BMI observed after 4th week of pranayama practice But significant decreased in BMI occur after 8th & 12th week of pranayama.
Conclusion: Short term pranayama have reducing impact on BMI and also have positive and useful effect on weight reduction in young adults.
Key words: Pranayama, Height, Weight, Body Mass Index.