Comparative Effect of 4 Weeks of Pranayama Breathing Exercise and Respiratory Endurance Training on the Lung Function and Quality of Life on Abdominal Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial

World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health (1) Abdominal adiposity markers like Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) and WC may influence pulmonary function through a mechanism that may restrict the descent of the diaphragm and limit lung expansion, compared to overall adiposity, which may compress the chest wall. Thirty subjects of abdominal obesity were randomised into two groups - group A (Pranayama Breathing Exercise) and Group B (Respiratory Endurance Training). Primary outcome measures of treatment with relative parameters such as: Peak flow meter was used to measure FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio. HRQOL (Health Related Quality Of Life) (SF-36 Questionnaire) contains 36 questions and used to assess quality of life. Each group contains 15 subjects. The duration of this study is 4 weeks. There is significant difference between two treatments (A and B) in terms of average reduction in FEV1 (t = 5.56, p = 0 less than 0.05), FVC (t =-1.293, p = 0.2065 greater than 0.05), FEV1/FVC Ratio (t =-2.11, p = 0.02 less than 0.05) and HRQOL (SF-36) Questionnaire (t =-10.42, p = 0 less than 0.05). Hence, the evidence is sufficient to conclude that Treatment A (Pranayama Breathing Exercise) is effective than Treatment B (Respiratory Endurance Training) in terms of average increase in FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC Ratio and HRQOL (SF-36) Questionnaire.