Therapeutic Efficacy of Rajayoga Meditation and Varma Therapy in Attenuating Occupational Stress and Reversing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Night-Shift Information Technology Professionals
S Venkatesan, D Rajendran
International Journal of Academic Excellence and Research September 30, 2026 DOI: 10.62823/ijaer/02.03.262 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Interventional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Night-shift IT professionals aged 25-45 years with Grade I or II NAFLD (30 males, 30 females) |
| Interventions | Rajayoga Meditation Varma Therapy |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), serum cortisol, lipid profile, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), ultrasound scanning for NAFLD grading |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | After 12 weeks of Rajayoga Meditation and Varma Therapy, participants showed significant improvements in Perceived Stress Scale scores, serum cortisol, lipid profile, DASS-21 anxiety and depression scores, and ultrasound-based NAFLD grading (p<0.001 for all). The authors conclude the techniques could improve psychological well-being, stress biomarkers, lipid metabolism, and NAFLD-related ultrasound features in night-shift IT professionals. |
Abstract
The growing incidence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) among night-shift IT professionals is posing as a major occupational health issue since shift work, sedentary lifestyle, psychosocial stress, lack of sleep, and disrupted circadian rhythms can lead to metabolism problems and fatty liver. Even though there is a possibility to cure NAFLD by adopting lifestyle changes, the pharmacological intervention for NAFLD is minimal and there is a high potential for the use of mind-body techniques like Rajayoga Meditation and Varma Therapy to enhance metabolic, psychological, and physiological well-being. The present study intended to determine the efficacy of Rajayoga Meditation and Varma Therapy on occupational stress and NAFLD among night-shift IT professionals. An interventional study was performed among 60 IT workers on night shift (aged between 25 and 45 years; 30 males and 30 females) suffering from NAFLD (Grades I and II), who participated in a protocol involving Rajayoga meditation and Varma therapy for a duration of 12 weeks. Parameters measured included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), serum cortisol, lipid profile, levels of anxiety and depression, which were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and status of liver, as determined by ultrasound scanning. Data analysis involved paired statistical test, with p<0.001 being regarded as statistically significant. Significant improvement was seen post-intervention in all the parameters mentioned above, including Perceived Stress Scale score, serum cortisol level, lipid profile levels, DASS-21 scores for anxiety and depression, and ultrasonography-based NAFLD grading. The results showed that Rajayoga meditation and Varma therapy could lead to significant improvements in psychological well-being, stress-related biomarkers, lipid metabolism, and NAFLD-related ultrasonographic features among night-shift IT professionals.