Yoga for Treating People at Risk for Diabetes or With Both HIV and Depression

The purpose of this study is to plan and develop an international collaboration for research on the health effects of yoga. This study will also determine the effects of yoga on people who are at an increased risk for developing diabetes and people with both HIV and depression.

In recent years, western health practitioners have become increasingly aware of the potential health benefits of yoga. This study will comprise two substudies that will evaluate the effects of yoga in two distinct populations. Participants in the first study will be people who are at risk for developing diabetes; participants in the second study will be people with both HIV and depression. All participants will practice yoga 3 to 6 days per week for 3 months. Blood collection will be done and weight and blood pressure measurements will be taken in study 1 participants; questionnaires will be used to measure depression and stress in study 2 participants. All study participants will be assessed at entry and at 3 and 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria for Study 1 Participants: Meet certain laboratory requirements Inclusion Criteria for Study 2 Participants: HIV infected Able to walk at least 50% of the time Inclusion Criteria for All Participants: Written informed consent of parent/guardian, if applicable Exclusion Criteria for Study 2 Participants: Require antiretroviral therapy

McDermott KA, Rao MR, Nagarathna R, Murphy EJ, Burke A, Nagendra RH, Hecht FM. A yoga intervention for type 2 diabetes risk reduction: a pilot randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Jul 1;14:212. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-212.