Effectiveness of Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review.
Massimiliano Buoli, Francesca Legnani, Monic Mastroianni, Letizia Maria Affaticati, Enrico Capuzzi, Massimo Clerici, Alice Caldiroli
International Journal of Yoga 2024 DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_191_24 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Patients with anorexia nervosa |
| Intervention | yoga |
| Topics | Breathwork |
| Keywords | Anorexia nervosa Asana Chakra Treatment Yoga |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | Yoga seems to ameliorate anorexia nervosa symptoms, especially emotional dysregulation, but more rigorous studies are needed. |
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric condition associated with high disability and mortality. The purpose of the present manuscript is to critically summarize evidence about the effectiveness of yoga for this condition. A bibliographic search was conducted in the main database sources (PubMed, Embase, and Scopus). Articles in English about the effectiveness of yoga in AN were included. Two hundred thirty-three articles were initially identified and 5 articles were included in the present review. With the exception of one study, all had several methodological limitations such as the presence of confounding factors (e.g., psychiatric comorbidity) or a too limited sample of patients. However, globally yoga seems to ameliorate AN symptoms, especially those regarding emotional dysregulation. Yoga is a candidate complementary treatment for the management of AN, but more randomized controlled studies with larger samples and limited bias are necessary to draw robust conclusions. It would be also interesting to verify in comparative trials the effectiveness of yoga with respect to other treatments such as psychotherapy or the administration of pharmacological compounds. Finally, the practice should be modified adapting to the specific needs of this type of patient.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pranayamas and their neurophysiological effects | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Implication of asana, pranayama and meditation on telomere stability | 2018 | Systematic review | |
| Effect of a single session of yoga and meditation on stress reactivity: A systematic review. Healthy adults | 2024 | Systematic review | n = 2,574 |
| The role of non-ordinary states of consciousness occasioned by mind-body practices in mental health illness. | 2023 | Systematic review | |
| Effect of Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Relaxation Techniques as Mind-Body Medicine Practices to Reduce Blood Pressure in Cardiac Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Patients with cardiovascular disease | 2024 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | n = 927 |