142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Can mind-body exercises help to manage obesity?

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Gerhild Ullmann , School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
     
Obesity is a major public health challenge; more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese.1 Obese individuals have an increased risk for developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. The management of obesity includes lifestyle modifications such as increased physical activity. However, more than 80% of adults do not meet the physical activity recommendations.2 Thus, there is a need to identify options that can attract those who are not inclined to follow conventional exercise strategies. In recent years mind-body exercises gained popularity. Although more than 18 million perform yoga and/or Tai Chi, and more than 10 million use Pilates in the U.S., we know little about the potential benefits of these exercises related to obesity.3The objective of this review is to determine whether mind-body interventions can help to reduce obesity and prevent or delay the onset of obesity-related medical conditions. Searches will be performed using PubMed, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Database. Following mind-body exercises will be included: Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Gyrokinesis, NIA, Pilates, Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga.  The search will be performed for articles published between January 2000 and May 2014. The review will report on design, frequency and duration of interventions, outcomes, attendance, and characteristics of participants. The results will indicate potential knowledge gaps and have an impact on future research directions.

1Ogden, Carroll, et al. Prevalence of Obesity in the US, 2009-2010. U.S. CDC, National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief, January 2012:  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db82.pdf

2CDC, State Indicator Report on Physical Activity:  http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/downloads/PA_State_Indicator_Report_2010.pdf

3ACSM. Schroeder. Mind/Body Exercise: What Is It? http://www.acsm.org/access-public-information/articles/2012/01/19/mind-body-exercise-what-is-it-

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
List two mind-body interventions that have addressed obesity. Differentiate between Yoga and Tai Chi. Compare Alexander Technique with Feldenkrais. Assess effects of Pilates on obesity related outcomes (e.g., body weight, body composition).

Keyword(s): Obesity, Chronic Disease Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mind-body exercises

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the PI of funded research in the field of mind-body exercises and aging. I am interested in mind-body exercises as prevention strategy and/or adjuvant therapy. My research has been published in scientific journals such as J Altern Complement Med, Prev Chronic Dis, J Aging Phys Act, J Phys Act Health, Aging Clin Exp Res, Home Health Care Serv Q.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3201.0: Alternative and Complementary Health Practices Special Topics