title: Group-Based Yogic Weight Loss with Ayurveda-Inspired Components: A Pilot Investigation of Female Yoga Practitioners and Novices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overweight/obesity is a pressing international health concern and conventional treatments demonstrate poor long-term efficacy. Preliminary evidence suggests yoga and Ayurveda may be promising approaches, although recent NHIS estimates indicate rare utilization of Ayurveda in the US. Group-based curricula that integrate yoga and Ayurveda-inspired principles to attenuate overweight and obesity across individuals may prove a feasible, disseminable clinical adjunct to facilitate psychosocial health and weight loss and/or maintenance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determine feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a ten-week yoga - based, Ayurveda-inspired weight management curriculum (YWL) piloted in female yoga practitioners (Study 1) then refined and tailored for yoga naïves (Study 2), on self-reported psychosocial process variables and % of self-reported total body weight loss (%TBWL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study 1 enrolled 22 yoga-experienced women (48.2 ± 14.3 years, BMI 30.8 ± 4.2 kg/m2) in a 10-week yoga-based program (YWL-YE). Study 2 enrolled 21 yoga- naïve women (49.4 ± 10.7 years, BMI 35.5 ± 6.8 kg/m2) in a revised 10-week program (YWL-YN). Self-reported weight and self-ratings of mindful eating behavior, body image disturbance, weight loss self-efficacy, body awareness, and self-compassion were collected at baseline, post-treatment (T2), and 3-month follow- up (T3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  YWL curricula was feasible in both studies. While attrition rates for both studies favorably compared to other weight management studies, attrition was higher for YWL-YN (28.6%) than YWL-YE (18.2%). In both studies, self-reported process variables and self-reported % TBWL changed in hypothesized directions at T2 and evidenced greater improvement at T3; effect sizes across all process variables were medium (-0.4) to large (-1.8). % TBWL reached clinical significance (>5%) only at T3 for the YWL-YE group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The YWL curricula employed here appear to improve psychosocial health among both overweight/obese yoga-experienced and yoga- naïve women. Results must be interpreted with caution due to study design, self-report assessments, and other limitations. Nonetheless, hypotheses are generated for future investigation.
authors: 1. University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, Storrs, CT.
authors: Tosca D
authors: TD
authors: Braun
authors: 1. University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, Storrs, CT.
authors: Crystal L
authors: CL
authors: Park
authors: 1. University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, Storrs, CT.
authors: Amy A
authors: AA
authors: Gorin
authors: Hilary
authors: H
authors: Garivaltis
authors: 2. Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Jessica J
authors: JJ
authors: Noggle
authors: 3. Harvard Medical School, Osher Research Center, Department of Biomedicine, Boston, MA.|4. New England School of Acupuncture, Newton, MA.
authors: Lisa A
authors: LA
authors: Conboy
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015431:Weight Loss; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Ayurveda; Yoga; mindfulness; obesity; self-compassion; weight loss