Effect of Yoga in the Treatment of Eating Disorders: A Single-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial with 6-Months Follow-up

Kari Ebbesen Karlsen; Karianne Vrabel; Solfrid Bratland-Sanda; Pål Ulleberg; Kirsten Benum

doi:10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_3_17

Effect of Yoga in the Treatment of Eating Disorders: A Single-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial with 6-Months Follow-up

Int J Yoga. 2018 May-Aug;11(2):166-169. doi: 10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_3_17.

Authors

Kari Ebbesen Karlsen^{1

2

3}, Karianne Vrabel⁴, Solfrid Bratland-Sanda^{4

5}, Pål Ulleberg¹, Kirsten Benum¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.
² District Psychiatric Center, Department of Sandnessjøen, Helgeland Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
³ Institute of Eating Disorder, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Research Institute of Modum Bad, Vikersund, Norway.
⁵ University College of Southeast Norway, Bø, Norway.

Abstract

Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of yoga treatment of eating disorders (EDs).

Methods: Adult females meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV criteria for bulimia nervosa or ED not otherwise specified (n = 30) were randomized to 11-week yoga intervention group (2 × 90 min/week) or a control group. Outcome measures, the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE)-Interview and Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2) scores, were administered at baseline, posttest, and at 6-month follow-up. There was a dropout rate of 30% (posttest) and 37% (6-month follow-up).

Results: The intervention group showed reductions in EDE global score (P < 0.01), the EDE subscale restraint (P < 0.05), and eating concern (P < 0.01) compared to the control group. The differences between the groups increased at 6-month follow-up. There were no differences between the groups in the EDI-2 score.

Conclusion: The results indicate that yoga could be effective in the treatment of ED.

Keywords: Adults; Yoga; bulimia nervosa; eating disorders not otherwise specified.