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For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight can reduce the risk of many chronic health conditions. Adding physical activity to dietary changes can increase initial weight loss and improve weight-loss maintenance. Most research on physical activity in weight control has focused on weightlifting or aerobic exercises like brisk walking. Yoga—despite its popularity—hasn’t been studied as much. A recent study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health helps to fill the knowledge gap on the potential role of yoga in weight loss.
The study evaluated two different styles of yoga—restorative hatha yoga or the more vigorous vinyasa yoga. Fifty people participated in one of these types of yoga while following a behavioral weight-loss program that also included a calorie- and fat-reduced diet and a weekly group session on behavioral strategies to promote weight loss. People in both groups lost significant amounts of weight and improved their cardiorespiratory fitness.
The findings of this study support the idea that incorporating yoga into a weight-loss program is doable for adults with obesity or overweight and may also be helpful for weight loss. Small studies such as this one prepare researchers to design larger studies that may compare yoga with other forms of physical activity for weight loss.
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