Author(s): Manjula Suri, Namita Saini and Shipra Gupta

Abstract: Yoga and diet counseling have long been considered to have beneficial effects on health. The objective of the present study was to examine the short term impact of a brief lifestyle intervention based on the cumulative beneficial effects of yoga and diet counseling on dietary and nutritional parameters, which are important components of health, in 60 young college-going females enrolled at one of the constituent colleges of the University of Delhi. The dietary variables were measured at baseline and at end of the 3-month intervention using a pre-post intervention design. The intake of cereals and millets, pulses, roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables, visible fats and oils, and sugar was significantly lower among the post-intervention group as compared to the pre-intervention group. The intake of vitamin C was above the recommended dietary allowances in the pre-intervention group but got significantly reduced in the post-intervention group. The intake of dietary folate significantly increased in the post-intervention group as compared to the pre-intervention group. Overall, consumption of both food and nutrient intake was not sufficient among the subjects in comparison with the recommendations after the 3-month intervention period. The observations suggest that a short term lifestyle modification based on yoga and diet counseling has a few important beneficial effects on dietary and nutritional parameters in college-going females, however, a longer duration intervention may yield a better overall improved dietary intake.

Pages: 155-160  |  1065 Views  21 Downloads

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