38 • PART i: A ModEl foR SElf-REgulATion And EngAgEMEnT
Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). As shown in the Klein and Cook-Cottone (2013) review,
there is evidence that yoga, as an embodied practice, can be helpful in preventing and
treating disordered eating.
Sedentary Behavior
The need for physical activity among school-age children and adolescents is high
(Cook-Cottone, Kane et al., 2013). According to the YRBSS, 15.2% of students had not
participated in at least 60 minutes of any kind of physical activity that increased their
heart rate and made them breathe hard some of the time on at least 1 day during the last
7 days before the survey (Kann et al., 2014). No physical activity was more prevalent among
female (19.2%) than male (11.2%) students (Kann et al., 2014). Further, rates of sedentary
behavior were higher among White females (16.1%), Black females (27.3%), and Hispanic
females (20.3%) than White males (9.2%), Black males (15.2%), and Hispanic males (12.1%),
respectively (Kann et al., 2014). Nationwide, 47.3% of students reported being physically
active for 60 minutes a day on 5 or more days during the 7 days before the survey, with
rates higher in male (57.3%) than female (37.3%) students. Further, rates of steady physical
activity were higher among White males (59.6%), Black males (53.3%), and Hispanic males
(54.4%) than White females (40.5%), Black females (29.3%), and Hispanic females (35.4%)
(Kann et al., 2014). According to the findings of the 2013 YRBSS, 41.3% of high school stu-
dents had played video or computer games, or used a computer for something that was
not school work, for 3 or more hours per day on an average school day (Kann et al., 2014).
Overall, 32.5% of students watched television 3 or more hours per day on an average school
day (Kann et al., 2014).
The consequences of high levels of sedentary behavior are clear. To provide an example
of the findings, in a review of studies of sedentary behavior among girls, Costigan,
Barnett, Plotnikoff, and Lubans (2013) found strong evidence for a positive association
between screen-based sedentary behavior and weight status. Further, positive associa-
tions were observed between screen time and sleep problems, musculoskeletal pain, and
depression. Negative associations were identified between screen time and physical activity/
fitness, screen time and psychological well-being, and screen time and social support. Yoga
provides a way for students to regain a sense of physical embodiment and to turn their focus
inward.
Self-Harm
Self-harm refers to intentional self-poisoning or self-injury, regardless of the motive or the
extent of suicidal intent (Hawton, Saunders, & O’Connor, 2012). Self-harm is a substantial
health problem among adolescents (Hawton et al., 2012); in fact, rates of self-harm are
higher in the teenage years (Hawton et al., 2012). According to Hawton et al. (2012), genetic
vulnerability and psychiatric, psychological, familial, social, and cultural factors may all
play a role in risk for self-harm. Further, the effects of media, contagion, and the Internet also
play a role. Research states that there is little evidence of effectiveness of either psychosocial
or pharmacological treatment (Hawton et al., 2012). The rates of self-harm vary according
to definition (i.e., nonsuicidal self-injury or deliberate self-harm) and the manner that it is
assessed (i.e., single item assessments or behavioral questionnaire; Muehlenkamp, Claes,