Pilot study of tai chi and qigong on body composition, sleep, and emotional eating in midlife/older women

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• (5 max): Tai Chi/Qigong
• body composition
• sleep
• eating
• women

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

Data is available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.