Effect of Yoga and Naturopathy Treatments on Psychological Burden in Obesity: A Single Case Report

Abstract

Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body and is a major risk factor for various noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion people worldwide are obese—650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children. The often ignored component of obesity is the psychological burden associated with the condition impacting multiple aspects such as low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. This case report shows the effect of an integrated yoga and naturopathy-based lifestyle in a patient with morbid obesity, with special reference to his psychological status. A 19-year-old male college student diagnosed with obesity underwent integrated yoga and naturopathy management for a period of 20 days. Outcome measures such as anthropometric measurements, positive and negative affects scale (PANAS), depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS), and day-to-day activity scale were taken before and after the 20-day intervention period. Results showed improvements in negative affect, depression, and anxiety levels, along with a reduction in body weight. Further studies with adequate sample sizes and experimental study designs are required to validate our findings.