A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of yoga on weight-related outcomes

Abstract

Introduction. Overweight and obesity are among the most important modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases and premature death. The aim of this review was to systematically assess and analyze the effects of yoga on weight-related outcomes.Methods. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were screened through March 2015 for randomized controlled trials on yoga for weight-related outcomes in the general population or overweight/obese individuals. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool on the following domains: selection bias, performance bias, detection bias, attrition bias, reporting bias, and other bias.Results. Out of 445 records identified during literature search, 30 trials with a total of 2173 participants were included. No effects on weight, body mass index, body fat percentage or waist circumference were found. In studies with healthy adult participants an effect of yoga compared to usual care was found regarding waist/hip ratio (SMD =-− 1.00; 95% CI =-− 1.44, − 0.55; p b 0.001). In studies with overweight/obese participants only, effects relative to usual care were found for body mass index (SMD = −0.99; 95% CI = −1.67, −0.31; p = 0.004). Effects however were not robust against selection bias; and publication bias could not be ruled out. No intervention-related adverse events were reported.Conclusions. Despite methodological drawbacks, yoga can be preliminarily considered a safe and effective intervention to reduce body mass index in overweight or obese individuals.

Yoga in Women With Abdominal Obesity

“…Thus far, only few randomized studies have explicitly focused on the effect of yoga on anthropometric measures in overweight or obese persons. On the basis of the few available studies, recent meta-analyses showed that yoga was effective with regard to anthropometric variables in overweight or obese persons as well as in patients with type 2 diabetes or other cardiovascular risk constellations (14,27).…”

“…Although initial evidence for the effectiveness of yoga on weight control and improved body composition from surveys (13) and clinical studies (14) is now available, the effects of yoga on abdominal obesity have not been investigated to date. Our study investigated the effect of yoga on waist circumference and further anthropometric measures in women with abdominal obesity.…”

How Is the Practice of Yoga Related to Weight Status? Population-Based Findings From Project EAT-IV

“…32–37 While findings from a recent review of randomized, controlled trials suggest that yoga-based interventions for overweight participants can lead to reductions in body mass index (BMI), few studies have focused on young adults. 38 Given the increasing popularity of yoga, an important question is whether yoga, as practiced by young adults in the general population, is associated with lower weight gain over time, particularly among overweight young adults.…”

Outcomes from a Whole-Systems Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga Therapy Treatment for Obesity Pilot Study

“…29 Yoga is inexpensive, noninvasive, and has been determined by two comprehensive reviews of clinical trials to be a safe effective intervention to reduce BMI and effective as primary or supplemental self-care for weight loss, weight maintenance, and prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome. 30,31 Other studies of yoga for weight loss/metabolic syndrome/diabetes have found significant reductions in abdominal obesity, 32 positive alterations in ghrelin axis, 33 and a reduction in cardiometabolic risk factors. 34 The specific mind-body approach of yoga therapy has also been found to spur psychosocial changes associated with durable weight loss, including ''yoga culture'' social support and reports that a yogic experience of weight loss was ''easier'' and ''subjects felt more confident in their ability to maintain lasting weight loss.''…”