Objective: Little is known about the benefits of yoga for pediatric obesity, and no studies have examined the\nbenefits of yoga for physical activity in either adults or children. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine\nwhether Hatha yoga would improve overall, physical and psychosocial functioning in youth with severe obesity. We\nalso sought to determine whether participants would increase the vigor of, and time spent in, physical activity.\nMethods: This study utilized a pre-test/post-test design. Sixteen youth with severe obesity completed an 8 week\nHatha yoga intervention involving fifteen, 60-minute classes. Physical and psychosocial functioning, fitness and\nstate-anxiety were assessed at baseline and post-intervention; parents completed proxy-reports of physical and\npsychosocial functioning at both time points. To assess physical activity, participants wore an Actical Accelerometer\nfor 7 days pre and post-yoga.\nResults: Significant improvements were found in: Overall, Physical and Psychosocial functioning, back and\nhamstring flexibility, and state-anxiety. Changes in the proportion of time spent in both light and moderate levels of\nphysical activity were marginally significant. Although 3 tests of fitness, and time spent in physical activity did not\nimprove significantly, trends were in the expected direction.\nConclusions: Youth with severe obesity may benefit from a Hatha yoga intervention. Yoga may also offer a way\nto engage in physical activity that is not precluded by bodily pain.
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