Yoga and Mindfulness in the Prevention of Metabolic Diseases

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing at an alarming rate around the globe. MetS consists of a cluster of comorbid diseases, viz., type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, abnormal lipid levels, and obesity. Lifestyle modification tools are suggested for the prevention and management of MetS. In addition to standard treatment, Yoga and mind-body interventions are seen as promising ways to treat MetS symptoms through a combination of therapies. Yoga is a wholesome complementary and alternative therapy comprising physical postures, breathing practices, meditation, and relaxation techniques that have an overall soothing impact on the contributory risk factors related to MetS. Based on the available published literature, this chapter investigates the potential role of Yoga and mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of metabolic diseases. For this purpose, various research databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and PubMed were searched using the terms Yoga, mindfulness, mind-body therapies, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular illnesses, and obesity, from inception to December 2021. The effectiveness of Yoga and mindfulness in preventing metabolic illnesses was investigated using RCTs, non-RCTs, narrative reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis. This chapter summarizes and elucidates the mitigating role of Yoga and mindfulness for the symptoms and risks associated with MetS and investigates the ameliorating aspects of Yoga and meditation as a preventive measure to mitigate the onset of metabolic diseases. It also highlights some potential Yoga practices appropriate for MetS patients while informing them of their psycho-physiological benefits.