TY - JOUR
T1 - Pilot study of tai chi and qigong on body composition, sleep, and emotional eating in midlife/older women
AU - James, Dara
AU - Larkey, Linda K.
AU - Evans, Bronwynne
AU - Sebren, Ann
AU - Goldsmith, Kimberley
AU - Smith, Lisa
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Weight gain and related adverse changes in body composition are prevalent among midlife and older women and contribute to chronic disease (e.g., type 2 diabetes, hypertension, depression). Tai Chi (TC) and Qigong (QG), forms of Meditative Movement, demonstrate improved physical/psychological symptoms and body composition. Using a standardized TC/QG protocol, we explored pre/post intervention differences in percent body fat and factors related to body composition in midlife/older women. In the context of a single-group pilot study, females ages 45–75 (N = 51) enrolled in an 8-week TC/QG intervention. Primary outcome measures of body composition, sleep quality, emotional eating and select secondary outcome psycho-emotional factors (perceived stress, mood state, mindfulness, self-compassion, body awareness) were collected. Change in percent body fat did not reach statistical significance (p = .30, M = 0.35, 95% CI [- 0.32, 1.0]). Sleep quality improved significantly, p = .04, M =–0.88, 95% CI [−1.71,–0.04]. Emotional eating changed in the expected direction, but not significantly, p = .08, M = −0.16, 95% CI [−0.34, 0.02]. Significant differences were found in body awareness, p = .01, M = 0.36, 95% CI [0.08, 0.63] and perceived stress, p = .05, M = −2.36, 95% CI [−4.76, 0.04]. Preliminary results are promising as results showed improvements in factors related to healthy body composition. Refined research is needed to understand if/how TC/QG may improve body composition among midlife and older women.
AB - Weight gain and related adverse changes in body composition are prevalent among midlife and older women and contribute to chronic disease (e.g., type 2 diabetes, hypertension, depression). Tai Chi (TC) and Qigong (QG), forms of Meditative Movement, demonstrate improved physical/psychological symptoms and body composition. Using a standardized TC/QG protocol, we explored pre/post intervention differences in percent body fat and factors related to body composition in midlife/older women. In the context of a single-group pilot study, females ages 45–75 (N = 51) enrolled in an 8-week TC/QG intervention. Primary outcome measures of body composition, sleep quality, emotional eating and select secondary outcome psycho-emotional factors (perceived stress, mood state, mindfulness, self-compassion, body awareness) were collected. Change in percent body fat did not reach statistical significance (p = .30, M = 0.35, 95% CI [- 0.32, 1.0]). Sleep quality improved significantly, p = .04, M =–0.88, 95% CI [−1.71,–0.04]. Emotional eating changed in the expected direction, but not significantly, p = .08, M = −0.16, 95% CI [−0.34, 0.02]. Significant differences were found in body awareness, p = .01, M = 0.36, 95% CI [0.08, 0.63] and perceived stress, p = .05, M = −2.36, 95% CI [−4.76, 0.04]. Preliminary results are promising as results showed improvements in factors related to healthy body composition. Refined research is needed to understand if/how TC/QG may improve body composition among midlife and older women.
KW - (5 max): Tai Chi/Qigong
KW - body composition
KW - eating
KW - sleep
KW - women
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U2 - 10.1080/08952841.2021.2018924
DO - 10.1080/08952841.2021.2018924
M3 - Article
C2 - 34962851
AN - SCOPUS:85121865341
SN - 0895-2841
VL - 34
SP - 449
EP - 459
JO - Journal of Women and Aging
JF - Journal of Women and Aging
IS - 4
ER -