Anthropometric Changes in Female Collegiate Athletes Apparent Within 4 Weeks of a Yoga Intervention

Yoga is associated with a spectrum of health benefits (e.g., flexibility, balance, strength, and stress management) in diverse populations. Fewer studies have explored yoga's relationship with body composition; this is the first study investigating the effect of yoga on body composition in collegiate athletes. We enrolled 14 Division 1 female athletes (age 18-22) who were active competitors in either track and field or cross-country running. All subjects underwent baseline body composition testing using a Fit3D imaging device. We recorded body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 7) or control group (n = 7). The experimental group participated in 60 minutes of in-person, guided yoga twice weekly. After 4 weeks, both experimental and control groups underwent follow-up testing. Differences in body composition changes were assessed using paired-sample and independent-sample t tests as appropriate. There were no differences between groups at baseline (p > 0.130). At follow-up, trending differences were observed between groups in body fat percentage (p = 0.073), waist circumference (p = 0.080), and hip circumference (p = 0.057). Participants in the yoga intervention experienced reductions in waist circumference (p = 0.021) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.020). Control subjects experienced increases over time in body fat percentage (p = 0.017), waist circumference (p = 0.036), and hip circumference (p = 0.002). These results indicate that yoga may have a protective effect against adverse changes in adiposity. Accordingly, trainers, coaches, and clinicians may consider incorporating yoga practice as a weight-management tool. Future research should examine whether these results are consistent in larger and more heterogeneous samples.