Yoga participation associated with changes in dietary patterns and stress: A pilot study in stressed adults with poor diet

• Published in: Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2021-11, Vol.45, p.101472-101472, Article 101472
• Main Authors: Braun, Tosca D., Schifano, Elizabeth D., Finkelstein-Fox, Lucy, Park, Crystal L., Conboy, Lisa A., Deshpande, Rina, Riley, Kristen E., Lazar, Sara W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Caloric intake; Change agents; Diet; Energy Intake; Fruit; Gateway effect; Healthy food; Humans; Intervention; Pilot Projects; Self report; Stress; Stress management; Weight gain; Weight loss; Women; Yoga
• ISSN: 1744-3881; 1873-6947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101472

Stress contributes to dietary patterns that impede health. Yoga is an integrative stress management approach associated with improved dietary patterns in burgeoning research. Yet, no research has examined change in dietary patterns, body mass index (BMI), and stress during a yoga intervention among stressed adults with poor diet. Objectively-measured BMI and a battery of self-report questionnaires were collected at four time points during and following a 12-week yoga intervention (N = 78, 71% women, mean BMI = 25.69 kg/m2±4.59) – pre-treatment (T1), mid-treatment (6 weeks; T2), post-treatment (12 weeks; T3), and at 3-month follow-up (24 weeks; T4). T1 to T3 fruit and vegetable intake, BMI, and stress significantly declined in the overall sample. Reduction in vegetable intake was no longer significant after accounting for reductions in caloric intake, and reduction in caloric intake remained significant after accounting for reductions in stress. Findings may be interpreted as yoga either encouraging or adversely impacting healthy dietary patterns (i.e., minimizing likelihood of future weight gain vs. decreasing vegetable intake and overall caloric intake among individuals who may not need to lose weight, respectively). Continued research is warranted, utilizing causal designs. •Stress contributes to dietary patterns that impede health.•Yoga reduces stress and may therefore improve diet in stressed adults.•Reduced fruit/vegetable intake, body mass index, and stress was found across 24 weeks.•Caloric decrease accounted for the reduced vegetable intake.•Yoga either encourages or adversely impacts healthy dietary patterns.