Effect of a structured Bihar model suryanamaskar intervention on lipid metabolism and body composition in middle adulthood

Introduction: Dyslipidemia and abnormal body composition are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially in middle-aged women who experience metabolic and hormonal changes. Surya Namaskar is a dynamic yogic sequence that combines aerobic, musculoskeletal, and psychophysiological advantages. The present study investigated the effect of Bihar Model Surya Namaskar on the lipid profile and body composition of women aged 37-52 years.

Methodology: A pre-post experimental design was adopted, in which a total of 40 female participants were divided into experimental and control groups in equal numbers. The experimental group went through a standardized 30-day Surya Namaskar protocol consisting of loosening exercises, Parvatasana-based sequences, functional movements, relaxation practices, and deep breathing, one hour daily. Lipid parameters (Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL, VLDL) and body composition measures (Weight, BMI, Waist and Hip Circumference) were measured on Day 0 and Day 31. Because the data were not normally distributed, the required analysis was done using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and the Mann-Whitney U Test, with a level of significance of less than 0.05.

Results: There were statistically significant reductions in all variables after 30 days in the experimental group: Total Cholesterol (p = 0.001), Triglycerides (p = 0.001), LDL (p = 0.001), VLDL (p = 0.001), Weight (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.001), Waist Circumference (p = 0.0001), and Hip Circumference (p = 0.001). In contrast, the control group showed nonsignificant increases in all parameters. Further, between-group comparisons showed that the experimental group had significantly lower post-test values than the control group in all the outcomes tested (p<0.05). The results confirm that Surya Namaskar has a positive effect on lipid metabolism and body composition.