Abstract
BackgroundA regular yoga practice may have benefits for young adult health, however, there is limited evidence available to guide yoga interventions targeting weight-related health. The present study explored the relationship between participation in yoga, healthy eating behaviors and physical activity among young adults.MethodsThe present mixed-methods study used data collected as part of wave 4 of Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), a population-based cohort study in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Young adults (n = 1820) completed the Project EAT survey and a food frequency questionnaire, and a subset who reported practicing yoga additionally participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 46). Analyses of survey data were used to examine cross-sectional associations between the frequency of yoga practice, dietary behaviors (servings of fruits and vegetables (FV), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and snack foods and frequency of fast food consumption), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Thematic analysis of interview discussions further explored yoga’s perceived influence on eating and activity behaviors among interview participants.ResultsRegular yoga practice was associated with more servings of FV, fewer servings of SSBs and snack foods, less frequent fast food consumption, and more hours of MVPA. Interviews revealed that yoga supported healthy eating through motivation to eat healthfully, greater mindfulness, management of emotional eating, more healthy food cravings, and the influence of the yoga community. Yoga supported physical activity through activity as part of yoga practice, motivation to do other forms of activity, increased capacity to be active, and by complementing an active lifestyle.ConclusionsYoung adult yoga practitioners reported healthier eating behaviors and higher levels of physical activity than non-practitioners. Yoga should be investigated as an intervention for young adult health promotion and healthy weight management.
Highlights
A regular yoga practice may have benefits for young adult health, there is limited evidence available to guide yoga interventions targeting weight-related health
In response to the current lack of evidence to guide yoga interventions for weight-related health, this study aimed to explore the relationship between yoga and two behavioral mechanisms by which yoga may be helpful for weight management among young adults: healthy eating and physical activity
Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to quantify the effects of yoga on diet quality and other measures of eating behavior to determine if eating behaviors can change as a result of yoga, if changes are sustained over time, and if changes lead to improved weight outcomes
Summary
A regular yoga practice may have benefits for young adult health, there is limited evidence available to guide yoga interventions targeting weight-related health. Yoga is an activity that combines physical movement, breathing, meditation, and mindfulness [7] It is currently practiced by over 30 million US adults [8, 9], and has become increasingly popular in countries around the world [10, 11]. Initial studies suggest that yoga has a positive impact on health [12,13,14,15], including tentative evidence of benefits for weight-management [16, 17], Watts et al International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2018) 15:42 and related factors such as disordered eating [18, 19], physical fitness [10], eating [20], sleep [8], mood [8], and stress [8]. It is of interest to explore the mechanisms by which yoga might promote healthy weightrelated behaviors
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