EFFICACY OF YOGIC PRACTICES ON BODY MASS INDEX AND STRESS AMONG MIDDLE AGED WOMEN

WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM

*B.Shalini, **Dr. R. Elangovan *Ph.D Scholar (Full Time), Faculty of Yoga Sciences and Therapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), West K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 600078. yoginishalini.b@gmail.com **Professor and Head, Faculty of Yoga Sciences and Therapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), West K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 600078. relangovantnpesu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the random group experimental study was to find out the efficacy of Yogic Practices on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Stress among middle aged women suffering with Hypothyroidism. For the purpose of the study, 30 Middle Aged women suffering with Hypothyroidism were selected randomly using random sampling method from Chennai between the age group of 36 and 45 years and they were divided into two groups I, and II with 15 subjects each. It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences among the Middle aged women with Hypothyroidism on selected physiological and psychological variables such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Stress than the control group. Preliminary test was conducted for two Groups on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Stress before the start of the training program. Group I subjects were given Yogic practices for 60 minutes, 6 days a week for a total period of eight weeks. Group II (Control Group) were in active rest. After the experimental period, the two groups were retested again on the same selected dependent variables. Analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) was used to find out the significant differences between the experimental group and the control group. The test of significance was fixed at 0.05 level of confidence. The results of the study proved that the Experimental Group showed significant differences on selected physiological and psychological variables such as Body Mass Index (BMI) (decreased) and Stress (reduced) than the Control Group due to Yogic practices among middle aged women with Hypothyroidism. The hypothesis was accepted at 0.05 level of confidence. Hence it is concluded that Yogic practices are beneficial to the middle aged women suffering with Hypothyroidism to maintain healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) and to overcome Stress.

 

Keywords: Yogic Practices, Body Mass Index, Stress and Hypothyroidism.

INTRODUCTION

Middle age is the age group which lies in the mid pathway between the adulthood and old age. Compared to men, women go through a plenty of physiological and psychological transformation especially the pre-menopausal symptoms. In addition to that, women of middle age are more prone to musculo-skeletal and joint aches, insomnia, depression and also chronic ailments such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disorders and obesity and thyroid disorders.

Among thyroid dysfunction, hypothyroidism is more prevalent among the middle aged women. Hypothyroidism is the condition where there will be under secretion of thyroid hormones Tri Iodo Thyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4) characterized by increased Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Triglycerides, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and decreased High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) which may lead to atherosclerotic heart Disease, exponential increase in Body Mass Index (BMI), Sleep Apnea, decreased bone density leading to an increased risk of fractures.

Causes:

Malfunctioning of Pituitary Gland, Iodine Deficiency, Hyperthyroidism, Thyroiditis and Radiation.

Symptoms:

Fatigue, Weight gain, Pale and dry skin, Brittle nail and hair, increased cholesterol level, Muscular pain, intolerance to cold, receding hairline, Anorexia, Menstrual Disturbances, Constipation, Facial and eyelid edema.

Complications:

Birth Defects, Cardio Vascular Risk, Infertility, Goiter and myxedema

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objective of the study was to find out whether there would be any significant difference on Physiological and Psychological variables among middle aged women suffering with Hypothyroidism.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of the study was to find out the efficacy of Yogic practices on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Stress among middle aged women suffering with Hypothyroidism.

HYPOTHESIS

It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences due to Yogic Practices on selected Physiological variable such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Psychological variable such as Stress than the control group among middle aged women suffering with Hypothyroidism.

DELIMITATIONS

• The study was delimited to women living in north Chennai only
• The age group of subject was ranged from 36 to 45 years only.
• The independent variable chosen was Yogic Practices only.
• The dependent variables chosen under physiological variable was Body Mass Index (BMI) and Psychological variable was Stress only.

LIMITATIONS:

• The factors like life style, body structure, and social activities were not taken in to consideration for this study.
• The factors like family heredity and motivational factors were not taken into consideration for this study.
• Certain factors like environmental and climatic conditions, economical background and also day to day work were not taken into consideration.
• The factors like diet, medication and personal habits were not taken in to consideration for the study.

REVIEWS ON RELATED LITERATURE

Banerjee Swapan et.al., (2019) worked on the effect of yoga practices on hypothyroidism among obese sedentary working women living in urban areas. 150 obese women, aged between 30-50 years living in eastern parts of West Bengal with hypothyroidism condition were selected for the study from June - 2017 to January - 2018. The subjects underwent yogic practices with and without diet modifications and the corresponding reading on BMI, TSH, T4 were taken before and after the intervention. The study results shows that yogic practices combined with diet modifications shows noticeable reduction in Body Mass Index, TSH and improved T4 levels among hypothyroidism affected women.

S Rani et.al., (2020) investigated on depression, lipid index and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels among women with hypothyroidism and mild-to-moderate depression due to yogic practices. Subjects underwent Yogic Practices involving asanas, pranayama, and relaxation techniques were given for the training period of one hour per day for five days a week. Depression, TSH, lipid profile indices, Body Mass Index (BMI), fatigue, anxiety, and stress were calculated before and after the training period. Data were analysed using R Studio software. The results showcased significant decrease in depression, serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone level, Body Mass Index, Fatigue, anxiety and stress after three months.

METHODOLOGY

            To achieve the purpose of the study, among the 60 Subjects living in North Chennai, 45 subjects were filtered and 30 middle aged women were selected randomly using random sampling method, between the age group of 36 and45 years and they were divided into two groups, experimental and Control group with 15 subjects in each group. Preliminary test was conducted for the two groups (I and II) on the selected dependent variables such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Stress before the start of the training program. Group I subjects were given Yogic practices for 60 minutes, six days in a week for a total period of eight weeks.

Yogic practices involving Loosening the Joints, Surya Namaskar followed by Asanas such as Trikonasana, Viparitakarani, Halasana, Matsyasana, Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana, Ushtrasana, arthamatsyendrasana, Maha mudra and Pranayama practices such as Kapalabhati, Nadishodana, Ujjayi followed by Yoga Nidra. Group II (Control Group) subjects were permitted to undergo their routine and normal lifestyle normal activities during the training period.

After eight weeks, the two groups were retested again on the same selected dependent variables such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Stress. Analysis of Co-Variance (ANCOVA) was used to find out the significant differences between experimental group and the control group. The test of significance was fixed at 0.05 level of confidence.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

TABLE I

COMPUTATION OF ANALYSIS OF COVARIANCE OF TRAINING GROUP AND CONTROL GROUP ON BODY MASS INDEX (Scores in Kg/m2))

TEST	GROUP 1	GROUP2 CONTROL GROUP	SOURCE OF VARIANCE	DEGREES OF FREEDOM	SUM OF SQUARES	MEAN SUM OF SQUARES	F-RATIO
Pre	25.55	25.41	Between	1	0.13	0.13	0.21
			With in	28	17.75	0.63
Post	23.80	25.21	Between	1	14.98	14.98	14.66*
			With in	28	28.62	1.02
Adjusted Post	23.75	25.26	Between	1	16.88	16.88	22.71*
			With in	27	20.07	0.74

*Significant at 0.05 level of confidence. (Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1 and 28 (df)   =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

The obtained F value on pre test scores 0.21 was lesser than the recommended F value of 4.2 to be significant at 0.05 level. This shows that there was no significant difference between the groups before the training period. There are significant differences between groups after the completion of training program, as obtained F value 14.66 was greater than the required F value of 4.20. This proved that the differences between the post-test means of the subject were significant. On account of adjusted pre-post-test mean scores, the obtained F value 22.71 was greater than the required F value of 4.21. This proved that there was a significant difference among the means due to eight weeks of yogic practices on Body Mass Index (BMI) in line with the study conducted by Banarjee Swapan (2019).The ordered adjusted means on Body Mass Index were presented through bar diagram for better interpretation of the outcome of this study in Figure -1.

 

Figure – 1

BAR DIAGRAM SHOWING THE MEAN DIFFERENCES AMONG THE GROUPS ON BODY MASS INDEX (Scores in Kg/m2)

*Significant at 0.05 level of confidence. (Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1 and 28 (df) =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

 

TABLE-II

COMPUTATION OF ANALYSIS OF COVARIANCE OF TRAINING GROUPS AND CONTROL GROUP ON STRESS (Scores in Marks)

TEST	EXP GROUP I	CONTROL GROUP GROUP 2	SOURCE OF VARIANCE	DEGREES OF FREEDOM	SUM OF SQUARES	MEAN  SUM OF SQUARES	F-RATIO
Pre	44.80	43.67	Between	1	9.63	9.63	0.54
			With in	28	499.73	17.85
Post	35.27	43.27	Between	1	480.00	480.00	8.98*
			With in	28	1495.87	53.42
Adjusted Post	34.95	43.59	Between	1	548.98	548.98	11.08*
			With in	27	1337.71	49.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Significant at 0.05 level of confidence.(Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1 and 28 (df) =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

 

The obtained F value on pre test scores 0.54 was lesser than the recommended F value of 4.2 to be significant at 0.05 level. This shows that there was no significant difference between the groups before the training period. There are significant differences between groups after the completion of training program, as obtained F value 8.98 was greater than the required F value of 4.20. This proved that the differences between the post-test means of the subject were significant. On account of adjusted pre-post-test mean scores, the obtained F value 11.08 was greater than the required F value of 4.21. This proved that there was a significant difference among the means due to eight weeks of yogic practices on Stress in line with the study conducted by S Rani et.al., (2020).The ordered adjusted means on Stress were presented through bar diagram for better interpretation of the outcome of this study in Figure -2.

 

Figure 2

BAR DIAGRAM SHOWING THE MEAN DIFFERENCE AMONG EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS ON STRESS (Score in Marks)

 *Significant at 0.05 level of confidence.(Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1 and 28 (df) =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

 

The outcome of the study exhibits that Body Mass Index (BMI) decreased and Stress reduced significantly due to Yogic Practices for Group-I than Group II. Hence the hypothesis was accepted at 0.05 level of confidence.

The above findings were also substantiated by the observations made by experts such as Nilakanthan Savitri et.al., (2016) and Banarjee Swapan (2019).

 

DISCUSSION ON HYPOTHESIS

It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences on selected Physiological variable such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Psychological variable such as Stress due to Yogic Practices among middle aged women suffering with Hypothyroidism than the control group. The results proved that there were significant differences on Body Mass Index (BMI) (decreased) and Stress (reduced) due to Yogic Practices than the control group among middle aged women with Hypothyroidism.

CONCLUSION:

It was concluded that there were significant differences on Body Mass Index (decreased) and Stress (reduced) among experimental group I compared to control group due to Yogic Practices among middle aged women with Hypothyroidism. Hence, Yogic practices are good for middle aged women suffering from Hypothyroidism to maintain healthy Body Mass Index and to overcome Stress.

REFERENCES:

Journals:

• S Rani et.al., (2020): A pilot study. Journal of complementary and integrative medicine, 13(2), 189-193.
• Banerjee, S. (2019). Study on Yoga Intervention along with Diet on Hypothyroidism Associated with Obesity among Sedentary Working Women in West Bengal. International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences, 8(1), 18-23.