Overweight and obesity are public health problems and contribute to numerous chronic diseases. Most
Behavioral Weight Loss Interventions (BWI) have typically included aerobic forms of exercise (e.g., brisk walking)
and have shown that this form of physical activity enhances weight loss compared to dietary approaches alone.
Given the potential benefits of yoga, there are claims that these benefits can contribute to yoga being effective
for weight loss. However, there are few long-term rigorous studies of yoga to support that yoga can enhance
weight loss, or other health outcomes, beyond what is achieved with other forms of physical activity within the
context of a BWI for adults with overweigh or obesity. The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee
found that there was insufficient evidence available to determine the relationship between yoga on indicators of
health risk progression, which included body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the Physical Activity Guidelines
Advisory Committee recommended the need to conduct systematic and coordinated randomized trials on the
health effects of yoga, and we will be focused on obesity in this application.
We propose a study of high scientific rigor using a randomized clinical trial design in this current application.
This study will build on our preliminary work and will conduct a 12-month randomized clinical trial. We will
implement a BWI and randomize participants to one of two physical activity prescriptions: 1) aerobic physical
activity (BWI+AER), 2) aerobic + yoga physical activity (BWI+AER+YOGA). The BWI includes contemporary
evidence-based behavioral strategies and a proven energy-reduced diet. The primary outcome will be weight
loss. Additional outcomes will include physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous intensity, light-intensity,
engagement in yoga), body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, resting blood pressure,
process measures of diet and eating behavior. We also will assess the acute and chronic effects on measures
that may be particularly responsive to yoga that may also influence weight loss. These include perceived stress
and distress, affect/mood, depressive symptoms, sleep, and hunger/satiety. We will examine moderators (e.g.,
sex, race/ethnicity, etc.) of the effectiveness of our interventions on weight change and other outcomes.
This study is important to patients with overweight and obesity, and clinicians who treat these patients. This
will provide clarity on the contribution of yoga to weight loss and other health outcomes in patients with obesity,
which is based on rigorous science within the context of a randomized trial.