Immediate effect of 12 rounds of slow and fast Suryanamaskara on gastric motility in overweight individuals: A comparative study

Obesity is a condition characterized by an excessive amount of adipose tissue mass which can have negative effect on health. Since directly measuring fat mass is not commonly done in regular clinical settings, the Body mass index (BMI) is typically utilized as a substitute. According to the World Health Organization “obesity and overweight are classified as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that is linked to an elevated risk of health, with overweight being defined as BMI >25 kg/m2 and obesity as BMI >30 kg/m2”. BMI is determined by dividing weight by height squared (in kg/m2). Categories are identified by BMI for the general population:  underweight (2)Five BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), class I obesity (overweight; BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), class II obesity (obesity; BMI 30.0-39.9 kg/m2), and class III obesity (severe obesity; BMI > 40 kg/m2).

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reports that the prevalence of overweight or obesity in Indian men and women aged 15 to 49 has increased from 12.1% (NFHS-III) to 18.9% (NFHS-IV), and overall, among women it has climbed from 14.8% (NFHS-III) to 20.7% (NFHS-IV).

In India, being overweight or obese is a serious health risk. Among the larger states, there were differences of more than 20% in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among men in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. Odisha, Gujarat, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand have inter-division of more than 20% in the incidence of overweight/obesity among women.

Therefore, approach which is cost effective and has no or minimum side effect is required. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) considered as one of the such treatment modality. The sequential yoga technique is known as the Suryanamaskara has been handed from the enlightened sages of the Vedic era. Here, the sun is called Surya in Sanskrit, while the word namaskar means "salutations". This ancient Indian practice involves making prayers to the rising Sun while facing east in the morning. It also involves a series of physical postures and controlled breathing exercises meant to provide a variety of mental, bodily, and spiritual advantages. Suryanamaskarais the exquisite fusion of twelve postures (Pranamasana, Hastautthanasana, Padahastasana, Ashwasanchalanasana, Parvatasana, Ashtanganamaskara, Bhujangasana) deliberate breathing, and relaxation.

By practicing of yogasanas from series of Surya namaskar such as Bhujangasana, Padhastasana, Shashankasanaenhances the intraabdominal pressure and strengthens the abdominal muscles. This relives gastric pressure and may show some physiological changes in gastric motility.

Electrogastrography (EGG) records the myoelectric activity of the stomach (either the serosa or mucosa) that occurs before contractions and uses non-invasive cutaneous electrodes to identify sluggish gastric activity. The slow wave frequency, or the stomach electrical control activity (ECA), determines the periodicity of the sinusoidal impulses that are recorded by the Electrogastrogram (EGG). The frequency of stomach contractions is determined by the dominant Electrogastrogram frequency. The Electrogastrogram signals in humans reflect normal 3 cycles per minute (cpm).

gastric slow waves and, consequently, the slow wave frequency. This has been demonstrated by concurrently recording the gastric myoelectrical activity from either the serosa or mucosa, in addition to recordings from cutaneous electrodes. Bradygastria is the term for slow frequency (0–2.4 cpm), while tachygastria is the term for excessively high frequency (3.6–9.9 cpm)(35). The condition is characterized by recurrent nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, stomach ulcers, cyclic vomiting syndrome, and other symptoms that point to irregular stomach emptying. A typical EGG suggests that the problem is most likely with the muscles or nerves controlling the stomach.

Hence, current study is needed to explore the effectiveness of Suryanamaskaraon Gastric mobility among overweight individuals and identify the physiological changes behind it which provide the scientific evidence which will be the first of its kind.