Effect of Yoga Exercises on the Body Composition of Fasting Females

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Physical Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Guilan, Iran

2 Department of Physical Education, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of one-month fasting along with yoga training on the body composition of novice female athletes. Twenty trained women were randomly assigned to experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The experimental group participated in yoga training classes for 4 weeks, two 60-min sessions per week; the control group did not participate in any regular exercise programs. This study was conducted on two fasting groups in the month of Ramadan, 2012. The study variables including body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured in three stages: a week before Ramadan, the fifteenth day of Ramadan, and a week after Ramadan. The results showed that BMI in the fasting yoga group decreased; however the changes of BMI in the control group were not significant. Also, subcutaneous fat showed significant reduction in both experimental and control groups, though the changes were more significant in the exercise group; also, the results showed that waist-to-hip ratio significantly changed in the experimental group. As to the results, yoga exercises along with fasting can help overweight people to experience ideal weight loss; also for the athletes who stop exercising in Ramadan, yoga can be used as an alternative to maintain their weight.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
December 2013
Pages 70-78

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 July 2013
  • Revise Date: 06 August 2013
  • Accept Date: 08 August 2013

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