Yoga and Obesity!!!
March 9, 2010 6:49 pm obesityObesity is an escalating problem in the United States and most of the Western world. The ancient Eastern practice of yoga is now being introduced to help treat obesity. According to two National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANE) Surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC), the rate of obesity among adults has more than doubled in the last thirty years; for children, the rate of those who are overweight has tripled. Obesity is variously categorized as a disease, an addiction, and a mental illness, depending on the circumstances. The practice of yoga shows promise for treating obesity, both as an addiction and as a mental illness. Yoga provides not only physical activity, but a way for obese and overweight individuals to safely explore and address underlying psychological and emotional factors that may contribute to their condition.