Can Yoga Help Children Battle Obesity?
Oct 13, 2017
According to the American Heart Association, obesity is one of the nation’s greatest health concerns. In addition to affecting children’s self-esteem and ability to take part in sporting activities, it is linked to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol levels. Mental health can also be affected, with obese children more likely to suffer from depression.
Preventing Childhood Obesity
The ideal strategy is to prevent obesity via sound nutrition and regular exercise since weight loss diets can be difficult to follow and can have low success rates. One study published in the journal Heliyon, shows that mindfulness (an important component of Yoga) can be an effective way to help children lose weight. The study showed that the brain networks in obese children are different from those in children who are within a normal weight range. In essence, children who eat more than they need to, have stronger connections in the part of the brain associated with being impulsive, while those who are able to avoid overeating, have stronger connections in the part of the brain associated with inhibition.
How Can Mindfulness and Yoga Help?
The researchers stated that part of the problem lies in the easy availability of a host of calorie-rich foods; from an evolutionary perspective, it is normal for humans to consume more food, yet too much of a good thing can have dire consequences for our health. They concluded that mindfulness activities could correct the imbalance in the brain connections linked to childhood obesity.
Indeed, various previous studies have already shown that Yoga has a host of health benefits for people of all ages, including battling stress, depression, fatigue and mood swings. Owing to these documented benefits, Western medicine is only slowly adopting mindfulness-based activities such as Yoga and Tai Chi in different settings - everything from PTSD/depression treatment to substance abuse and eating disorder recovery. In essence, mindfulness is viewed as an affordable, practical manner to protect families against pressing health concerns.
From a physical perspective, Yoga increases strength and flexibility. It can also be adapted to all sizes and levels so that even children who are not particularly active can slowly ease into the activity.
Yoga burns calories, increases self-confidence and promotes mindfulness. It is also a fun way for children to meet and socialize with friends. Sometimes, staying at a healthy weight is not so much a matter of strict dieting and military-style exercise regimes, as learning how to select food mindfully; enjoying the flavor and texture of beautiful food ‘in the here and now’.
