Efficacy of Yoga and Kalari Practice on Waist Circumference among Over-weight and Obese School Girls

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of Yogic and Kalari practices on waist circumference among overweight and obese adolescent girls. A total of 180 adolescent girls were invited, and after screening, 90 participants aged 13-19 years with a BMI greater than 30 were randomly assigned to three groups: Yoga Group (YG), Kalari Group (KG), and Control Group (CG), with 30 subjects in each group. The experimental groups (YG and KG) participated in a 24-week training program, while the control group remained inactive. The training protocol began with 25 minutes per session, six days a week, with incremental increases of 5 minutes every four weeks, ultimately reaching 50 minutes by the sixth week. Pre- and post-intervention measurements of waist circumference were taken, and data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and post-hoc tests. The results revealed significant reductions in waist circumference for both the Yoga and Kalari groups (p < 0.001), with no significant change observed in the Control group. This study suggests that both Yoga and Kalari practices are effective interventions for reducing waist circumference in obese adolescent girls.