Sport şi Societate (Mar 2014)
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTI-STRESS MASSAGE AND THE IMPACT OF ACCEPTING YOUR OWN BODYIN TREATING OBESITY
Abstract
This study aimed to establish the effectiveness of anti-stress massage as a part of the kinetic treatment of obesity, starting from the hypothesis stating that the use of anti-stress massage in treating obesity can contribute to a re-balance of the psycho-somatic aspects that are disturbed by stress, and indirectly, to losing weight. The study comprised 12 women, aged between 19 and 42, with class I obesity. For the initial and final assessment, the measurement of weight and height was used (to calculate the Body Mass Index), and for the assessment of the level of stress and of the risk for disease in the near future, the Holmes Life Events Inventory was used. Two groups were created, the anti-stress massage being applied only to the subjects from one group. Throughout the whole experiment, the subjects from both groups were comprised in weight losing physical exercise programs. The experimental group subjects benefited each from 2 anti-stress massage sessions per week, over the course of three months.The final results showed that the stress levels were considerably lower in the experimental group women, who benefited from the anti-stress massage, and the weight loss and the diminishing of perimeters were more important than for the women in the control group.
