The Effects of Yoga on Body Image in College Women

Can Yoga Reduce Body Image Concerns in Females, Thereby Reducing Risk of Obesity and Eating Disorders?

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of a regular yoga practice on body image in college women.

A randomized controlled design will be used to study the effects of a regular yoga practice on body image in young adult women. Fifty female freshman, sophomores, and juniors between the ages of 18 and 26 years will be recruited from the University of Delaware student population, specifically targeting those new to yoga. Age, academic standing, availability and prior yoga experience will be evaluated. Consented individuals will be randomized to one of two conditions: (1) yoga (offered 3 times per week) for 10 weeks; or (2) a control group. Baseline assessments, midpoint assessments, and end-of-study assessments will be conducted on all participants. Participants will be compensated for their attendance at assessment visits.

Participants are required to attend three assessment visits. During these assessments, participants will complete a questionnaire that will ask about their eating patterns, body image, sleep habits, and loneliness and have their height and weight measured. Participants are also required to attend 50-minute yoga classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:25-2:15pm for 10 weeks. The overall time commitment for Yoga Group participants is 3 hours of assessments and 50-minute yoga classes 3X week for 10 weeks.

Participants will be required to attend three assessment visits. During these assessments, participants will complete a questionnaire that will ask about their eating patterns, health habits, body image, sleep habits and loneliness and have their height and weight measured. The overall time commitment for Control Group participants is 3 hours of assessments total.

The yoga classes will be adapted to all levels of experience, mobility, and body size. Specific breathing techniques and body positive language will be incorporated into a body-positive yoga training done by Ms. Lisa Diers, RDN, E-RYT, YACEP. Less focus will be placed on precision of the poses, instead focus will be on body feelings, except where physically dangerous. Thus, the overall focus will be on listening to one's own body. List of messages will be carefully designed to be related to eating and weight, but to not be directly discussed. Ms. Diers will travel to Delaware to lead the intervention training for yoga instructors prior to the study taking place.

Inclusion Criteria: Freshman, sophomore, or junior at the University of Delaware Available Spring 2017 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:25-2:15pm Physically able to participate in yoga Exclusion Criteria: Females who are seniors at the University of Delaware (This is because participants in the control condition will be given a pass to participate in group fitness at the end of the study, and would not be able to use this incentive if they are seniors)