title: Randomized controlled pilot trial of yoga in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors: effects on quality of life and anthropometric measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To obtain estimates of time to recruit the study sample, retention, facility-based class attendance and home practice for a study of yoga in breast cancer survivors, and its efficacy on fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and weight change.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three post-treatment stages 0-III borderline overweight and obese (body mass index ≥ 24 kg/m(2)) breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to a 6-month, facility- and home-based viniyoga intervention (n = 32) or a waitlist control group (n = 31). The yoga goal was five practices per week. Primary outcome measures were changes in QOL, fatigue, and weight from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in waist and hip circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It took 12 months to complete recruitment. Participants attended a mean of 19.6 classes and practiced at home a mean of 55.8 times during the 6-month period. At follow-up, 90% of participants completed questionnaires and 87% completed anthropometric measurements. QOL and fatigue improved to a greater extent among women in the yoga group relative to women in the control group, although no differences were statistically significant. Waist circumference decreased 3.1 cm (95% CI, -5.7 and -0.4) more among women in the yoga compared with the control group, with no difference in weight change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides important information regarding recruitment, retention, and practice levels achieved during a 6-month, intensive yoga intervention in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors. Yoga may help decrease waist circumference and improve quality of life; future studies are needed to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, 1100 Olive Way, Metropolitan Park West, Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. alyson@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Alyson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Littman
authors.forename: Lisa Cadmus
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceballos
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Jaya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramaprasad
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McTiernan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001835:Body Weight; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015013:Yoga