The effect of long term combined yoga practice on the basal metabolic rate of healthy adults

BACKGROUND: Different procedures practiced in yoga have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the basal metabolic rate when studied acutely. In daily life however, these procedures are usually practiced in combination. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the net change in the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of individuals actively engaging in a combination of yoga practices (asana or yogic postures, meditation and pranayama or breathing exercises) for a minimum period of six months, at a residential yoga education and research center at Bangalore. METHODS: The measured BMR of individuals practicing yoga through a combination of practices was compared with that of control subjects who did not practice yoga but led similar lifestyles. RESULTS: The BMR of the yoga practitioners was significantly lower than that of the non-yoga group, and was lower by about 13 % when adjusted for body weight (P < 0.001). This difference persisted when the groups were stratified by gender; however, the difference in BMR adjusted for body weight was greater in women than men (about 8 and 18% respectively). In addition, the mean BMR of the yoga group was significantly lower than their predicted values, while the mean BMR of non-yoga group was comparable with their predicted values derived from 1985 WHO/FAO/UNU predictive equations. CONCLUSION: This study shows that there is a significantly reduced BMR, probably linked to reduced arousal, with the long term practice of yoga using a combination of stimulatory and inhibitory yogic practices

Enfermagem na saúde da criança: estudo bibliográfico acerca da avaliação nutricional La enfermería en la salud del niño: estudio bibliográfico sobre la evaluación nutricional Nursing in child's health: bibliography study on assessment nutritional

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a produção científica acerca da atuação do enfermeiro na saúde nutricional da criança. Estudo bibliográfico realizado entre abril e maio de 2008, nas bases de dados online, com descritores: avaliação nutricional, antropometria, crescimento, criança. Critérios de inclusão: saúde infantil na avaliação nutricional, enfermeiro/autor e artigos publicados entre 2000 e 2007. Encontraram-se 15 artigos nos seguintes anos: 2000 (1), 2001 (1), 2002 (2), 2003 (4), 2005 (1), 2006 (3) e 2007 (3). Periódicos inscritos nas áreas: enfermagem (1), nutrição (1), saúde pública (3) e médica (1). Tipo de estudo: epidemiológicos (1), descritivos (5), transversais (7), longitudinal (1), estudo de caso (1), revisão de literatura (1) e relato de experiência (1). Unidades temáticas: avaliação nutricional mediante acompanhamento do crescimento e desenvolvimento infantil; fatores determinantes da nutrição infantil e avaliação nutricional como cuidado de enfermagem. Ressalta-se que o enfermeiro tem buscado fundamentação teórica e prática para cuidar da criança com déficit nutricional.<br>Analizar la producción científica que existe sobre el papel que desempeña el enfermero en la salud nutricional del niño. Estudio bibliográfico desarrollado entre abril y mayo/2008 usando bases de datos en línea, a través de los siguientes descriptores: evaluación nutricional, antropometría, crecimiento, niño. Se aplicaron los siguientes criterios de inclusión: salud infantil en la evaluación nutricional, enfermero/autor y artículos publicados entre 2000 y 2007. Se encontraron 15 artículos en los años: 2000 (1), 2001 (1), 2002 (2), 2003 (4), 2005 (1), 2006 (3) e 2007 (3). Periódicos inscriptos en las áreas: enfermería (1), nutrición (1), salud pública (3) y médica (1). Tipo de estudio: epidemiológicos (1), descriptivos (5), transversales (7), longitudinales (1), estudio de caso (1), revisión de literatura (1) y relato de experiencia (1). Unidades temáticas: evaluación nutricional mediante acompañamiento del crecimiento y desarrollo infantil; factores determinantes de la nutrición infantil y evaluación nutricional como cuidado de la enfermería. Descata el hecho que el enfermero ha buscado desarrollar una fundamentación teórico/práctica para cuidar del niño con déficit nutricional.<br>To examine the scientific production about the role of nurses in the nutritional health of child. Bibliographic study, held between April and May 2008 in on line databases, with descriptors: nutritional assessment, anthropometry, growth, child. Criteria for inclusion: child health in nutrition assessment, nurse / author and articles published between 2000 and 2007. Meeting 15 articles in the years: 2000 (1), 2001 (1), 2002 (2), 2003 (4), 2005 (1), 2006 (3) e 2007 (3). Regular subscribers in the areas: nursing (1), nutrition (1), health (3) and medical (1). Type of study: epidemiological (1), descriptive (5), Cross (7), longitudinal (1), the case study (1), review of literature (1) and report of experience (1). Thematic units: nutritional assessment by the monitoring of growth and child development by nurses; determinants of children's nutrition and nutritional assessment and nursing care. It is emphasized that the nurse has sought theoretical and practical reasons to take care of children with nutritional deficiency