YOGA AND EMOTIONAL EATING BEHAVIOR: A PERSPECTIVE FROM NEUROENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC MECHANISMSABSTRACT
Main Article Content
Abstract
Aims: This review aims to synthesize and analyze scientific evidence regarding the role of Classical Yoga (including Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation) in regulating appetite-controlling hormons (Ghrelin, Leptin, Adiponectin) and their subsequent impact on Emotional Eating (EE) behaviors.
Methods: A narrative review approach was employed, collecting data from reputable academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect over a 10-year period (2014–2024). Inclusion criteria focused on Classical Yoga intervention studies and systematic reviews related to the endocrine mechanisms of Yoga on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and metabolic hormons in adults or individuals exhibiting emotional eating.
Results: Evidence suggests that Classical Yoga helps reduce Cortisol levels by modulating the HPA axis and the autonomic nervous system, thereby attenuating false hunger signals (hedonic hunger) rather than physiological hunger. Specifically, regular Yoga practice is associated with higher levels of Leptin and Adiponectin (satiety and anti-inflammatory hormons) and decreased levels of Ghrelin (the hunger hormon), which improves the self-regulation of eating behaviors and reduces stress-induced cravings.
Conclusion: Classical Yoga extends beyond mere physical exercise, serving as a potential intervention strategy for modulating endocrine dysregulation associated with eating behaviors. Integrating Yoga into daily routines can assist individuals in sustainably managing emotional eating through hormon-balancing mechanisms and enhanced interoceptive awareness.
Keywords
Classical Yoga, Ghrelin, Leptin, Adiponectin, emotional eating, HPA axis, endocrinology.
Article Details
References
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40. Fan R, Kong J, Xie Y. Potential Regulatory Role of Appetite-Regulating Hormones and Exercise Associated with Emotional Eating: A Narrative Review. Lifespan Development and Mental Health. 2025; 1(1):10001.
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59. Hopkins LB, Medina JL, Baird SO, Rosenfield D, Powers MB, Smits JA. Heated hatha yoga to target cortisol reactivity to stress and affective eating in women at risk for obesity-related illnesses: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2016;84(6):558-564.
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68. Hopkins LB, Medina JL, Baird SO, Rosenfield D, Powers MB, Smits JA. Heated hatha yoga to target cortisol reactivity to stress and affective eating in women at risk for obesity-related illnesses: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2016;84(6):558-564.
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2. Lazarevich I, Irigoyen Camacho ME, Velázquez-Alva MDC, et al. Relationship among obesity, depression, and emotional eating in young adults. Appetite. 2016;107:639-644.
3. Chang RS, Cerit H, Hye T, et al. Stress-induced alterations in HPA-axis reactivity and mesolimbic reward activation in individuals with emotional eating. Appetite. 2022;168:105707.
4. Van T, Roelofs K, de Weerth C, et al. Cortisol reactivity and distress-induced emotional eating. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2013;38(5):677-684.
5. Richards AL, Johnson R. Reduction in Emotional and Uncontrolled Eating Scores with Yoga Compared to Stretching: A Randomized Trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2025;31(5):32-39.
6. Bryan S, Parasher R, Cahil T, et al. Yoga, mindful eating, and weight management. J Nutr Ther. 2013;2:173-181.
7. Carei TR, Fyfe-Johnson AL, Breuner CC, et al. Randomized controlled clinical trial of yoga in the treatment of eating disorders. J Adolesc Health. 2010;46(4):346-351.
8. Chao AM, Jastreboff AM, White MA, et al. Stress, cortisol, and other appetite-related hormones: Prospective prediction of 6-month changes in food cravings and weight. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017;25(4):713-720.
9. Herman JP, McKlveen JM, Ghosal S, et al. Regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Stress Response. Compr Physiol. 2016;6(2):603-621.
10. Sominsky L, Spencer SJ. Eating behavior and stress: a pathway to obesity. Front Psychol. 2014;5:434.
11. Yu AP, Ugwu FN, Tam BT, et al. One Year of Yoga Training Alters Ghrelin Axis in Centrally Obese Adults With Metabolic Syndrome. Front Physiol. 2018;9:1321.
12. Chao AM, Jastreboff AM, White MA, et al. Stress, cortisol, and other appetite-related hormones: Prospective prediction of 6-month changes in food cravings and weight. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017;25(4):713-720.
13. Shimizu R, Suzuki H, Amitani M, et al. The Effects of Yoga on Key Adipocytokines in Obesity: A Narrative Review of Leptin and Adiponectin. Cureus. 2025;17(1):e76792.
14. Papargyri P, Zapanti E, Salakos N, et al. Links between HPA axis and adipokines: clinical implications in paradigms of stress-related disorders. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2018;13(6):317-332.
15. Gruzdeva O, Borodkina D, Uchasova E, et al. Leptin resistance: underlying mechanisms and diagnosis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019;12:191-198.
16. Bouillon-Minois JB, Outrey J, Pereira B, et al. The Impact of Job-Demand-Control-Support on Leptin and Ghrelin as Biomarkers of Stress in Emergency Healthcare Workers. Nutrients. 2022;14(23):5009.
17. Stern JH, Rutkowski JM, Scherer PE. Adiponectin, Leptin, and Fatty Acids in the Maintenance of Metabolic Homeostasis through Adipose Tissue Crosstalk. Cell Metab. 2016;23(5):770-784.
18. Choi HM, Doss HM, Kim KS. Multifaceted Physiological Roles of Adiponectin in Inflammation and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(4):1219.
19. Yau YH, Potenza MN. Stress and eating behaviors. Minerva Endocrinol. 2013;38(3):255-267.
20. Godet A, Fortier A, Bannier E, et al. Interactions between emotions and eating behaviors: Main issues, neuroimaging contributions, and innovative preventive or corrective strategies. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022;23(4):807-831.
21. Giddens E, Noy B, Steward T, et al. The influence of stress on the neural underpinnings of disinhibited eating: a systematic review and future directions for research. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2023;24(4):713-734.
22. Eisenstein S, Bischoff A, Gredysa D, et al. Emotional Eating Phenotype is Associated with Central Dopamine D2 Receptor Binding Independent of Body Mass Index. Sci Rep. 2015;5:11283.
23. Pursey KM, Stanwell P, Gearhardt AN, et al. The prevalence of food addiction as assessed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale: a systematic review. Nutrients. 2014;6(10):4552-4590.
24. Epel ES, Tomiyama AJ, Mason AE, et al. The Reward-Based Eating Drive Scale: A Self-Report Index of Reward-Based Eating. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(6):e101350.
25. Godet A, Fortier A, Bannier E, et al. Interactions between emotions and eating behaviors: Main issues, neuroimaging contributions, and innovative preventive or corrective strategies. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022;23(4):807-831.
26. Pascoe MC, Thompson DR, Ski CF, et al. Yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction and stress-related physiological measures: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017;86:152-168.
27. Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G, et al. Yoga for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2016;23(18):1982-1993.
28. Fasshauer M, Paschke R. Regulation of adipocytokines and insulin resistance. Diabetologia. 2003;46(12):1594-1603.
29. Fantuzzi G. Adiponectin and inflammation: consensus and controversy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;121(2):326-330.
30. Matsuda M, Shimomura I. Roles of oxidative stress, adiponectin, and nuclear hormone receptors in obesity-associated insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig. 2014;19(2):75-88.
31. Beaupere C, Liboz A, Fève B, Blondeau B, Guillemain G. Molecular Mechanisms of Glucocorticoid-Induced Insulin Resistance. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(2):623.
32. Geer EB, Islam J, Buettner C. Mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance: focus on adipose tissue function and lipid metabolism. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2014;43(1):75-102.
33. Asensio, C., P. Muzzin, and F. Rohner-Jeanrenaud, Role of glucocorticoids in the physiopathology of excessive fat deposition and insulin resistance. International Journal of Obesity, 2004. 28(4): p. S45-S52.
34. Janssen JAMJL. New Insights into the Role of Insulin and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis in the Metabolic Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(15):8178. Published 2022 Jul 25.
35. Fernández-Real JM, Ricart W. Insulin resistance and chronic cardiovascular inflammatory syndrome. Endocr Rev. 2003;24(3):278-301.
36. Tenhola S, Todorova B, Jääskeläinen J, Jänne OA, Raivio T, Voutilainen R. Serum glucocorticoids and adiponectin associate with insulin resistance in children born small for gestational age. Eur J Endocrinol. 2010;162(3):551-557.
37. Anagnostis P, Athyros VG, Tziomalos K, Karagiannis A, Mikhailidis DP. Clinical review: The pathogenetic role of cortisol in the metabolic syndrome: a hypothesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94(8):2692-2701.
38. Kuckuck S, van der Valk ES, Scheurink AJW, et al. Glucocorticoids, stress and eating: The mediating role of appetite-regulating hormones. Obes Rev. 2023;24(3):e13539.
39. Kuckuck S, van der Valk ES, Scheurink AJW, et al. Glucocorticoids, stress and eating: The mediating role of appetite-regulating hormones. Obes Rev. 2023;24(3):e13539.
40. Fan R, Kong J, Xie Y. Potential Regulatory Role of Appetite-Regulating Hormones and Exercise Associated with Emotional Eating: A Narrative Review. Lifespan Development and Mental Health. 2025; 1(1):10001.
41. Reytor-González C, Simancas-Racines D, Román-Galeano NM, Annunziata G, Galasso M, Zambrano-Villacres R, Verde L, Muscogiuri G, Frias-Toral E, Barrea L. Chrononutrition and Energy Balance: How Meal Timing and Circadian Rhythms Shape Weight Regulation and Metabolic Health. Nutrients. 2025; 17(13):2135.
42. Bryant, Edwin F. The yoga sutras of Patanjali: A new edition, translation, and commentary. North Point Press, 2015.
43. Gopal A, Mondal S, Gandhi A, Arora S, Bhattacharjee J. Effect of integrated yoga practices on immune responses in examination stress - A preliminary study. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(1):26-32.
44. Pandey PT, Singh V, Devesh, Haider J. Effect of yoga on salivary cortisol inmedical student. Int J Res Med Sci 2016;4:4995-8.
45. Michalsen A, Grossman P, Acil A, et al. Rapid stress reduction and anxiolysis among distressed women as a consequence of a three-month intensive yoga program. Med Sci Monit. 2005;11(12):CR555-CR561.
46. Skoracka K, Hryhorowicz S, Schulz P, et al. The role of leptin and ghrelin in the regulation of appetite in obesity. Peptides. 2025;186:171367.
47. Sharma N, Agrawal M, Rushi, Ayyub S, Rai D. Mindfulness-based Interventions for Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Ann Neurosci. Published online July 19, 2025.
48. Taren AA, Gianaros PJ, Greco CM, et al. Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2015;10(12):1758-1768.
49. S himizu R, Suzuki H, Amitani M, Amitani H. The Effects of Yoga on Key Adipocytokines in Obesity: A Narrative Review of Leptin and Adiponectin. Cureus. 2025;17(1):e76792. Published 2025 Jan 2.
50. Chobe MP, Nanjundaiah RM Prof, Chobe S Dr, Raghuram N Dr. Effect of yoga on adipokine levels among overweight and obese people: A systematic review. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2023;14(6):100813.
51. Exploring the Role of Yoga in Modulating Gut Microbiota in Obesity: A Narrative Review of Mechanistic Insights and Integrative Potential. VER. 2025;8(8s):77-87. Accessed May 7, 2026.
52. Mishra, S., et al., Exploring the Role of Yoga in Modulating Gut Microbiota in Obesity: A Narrative Review of Mechanistic Insights and Integrative Potential. Vascular and Endovascular Review, 2025. 8(8s): p. 77-87.
53. Pinna T and Edwards DJ (2020) A Systematic Review of Associations Between Interoception, Vagal Tone, and Emotional Regulation: Potential Applications for Mental Health, Wellbeing, Psychological Flexibility, and Chronic Conditions. Front. Psychol. 11:1792.
54. Kepecs A, Uchida N, Mainen ZF. The sniff as a unit of olfactory processing. Chem Senses. 2006;31(2):167-179.
55. Zaccaro A, Piarulli A, Laurino M, Garbella E, Menicucci D, Neri B and Gemignani A (2018) How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psycho-Physiological Correlates of Slow Breathing. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 12:353.
56. Wu J, Tian Z, Qi Z, Liu X and Yu P (2026) Cardiovascular disease and depression: a bidirectional relationship and its clinical implications. Front. Psychiatry 16:1675680.
57. Pandey, S., Gupta, B. (2025). Effect of pranayama on mental health: A review of evidence and implication. Southeast Asian Journal of Health Professional, 8(3), 58-60.
58. Khajuria A, Kumar A, Joshi D, Kumaran SS. Reducing Stress with Yoga: A Systematic Review Based on Multimodal Biosignals. Int J Yoga. 2023;16(3):156-170.
59. Hopkins LB, Medina JL, Baird SO, Rosenfield D, Powers MB, Smits JA. Heated hatha yoga to target cortisol reactivity to stress and affective eating in women at risk for obesity-related illnesses: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2016;84(6):558-564.
60. Kim M, You J, Seong G, et al. Preliminary Evidence for Changes in Functional Connectivity Associated with Emotional Awareness after Mobile-Based Mindfulness Meditation. Yonsei Med J. 2026;67(3):238-250.
61. Yang H, Zhou X, Xie L, Sun J. The effect of emotion regulation on emotional eating among undergraduate students in China: The chain mediating role of impulsivity and depressive symptoms. PLoS One. 2023;18(6):e0280701. Published 2023 Jun 15.
62. Tsang EW, Gao J, Lo CN, Trapp NT, Boes AD, Sik H. Effects of mindfulness meditation on human impulsivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Academia Mental Health and Well-Being. 2025;2.
63. Papp ME, Lindfors P, Nygren-Bonnier M, Gullstrand L, Wändell PE. Effects of High-Intensity Hatha Yoga on Cardiovascular Fitness, Adipocytokines, and Apolipoproteins in Healthy Students: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(1):81-87.
64. Craig AD. Interoception: the sense of the physiological condition of the body. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2003;13(4):500-505.
65. Klocek A, Řiháček T. The associations between interoceptive awareness, emotion regulation, acceptance, and well-being in patients receiving multicomponent treatment: a dynamic panel network model. Res Psychother. 2023;26(2):659. Published 2023 Jul 26.
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