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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Feb;20(2):267-77.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-010-1066-8. Epub 2011 Jan 5.

Randomized controlled pilot trial of yoga in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors: effects on quality of life and anthropometric measures

Alyson J Littman  1 , Lisa Cadmus Bertram, Rachel Ceballos, Cornelia M Ulrich, Jaya Ramaprasad, Bonnie McGregor, Anne McTiernan
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized controlled pilot trial of yoga in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors: effects on quality of life and anthropometric measures

Alyson J Littman et al. Support Care Cancer. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: To obtain estimates of time to recruit the study sample, retention, facility-based class attendance and home practice for a study of yoga in breast cancer survivors, and its efficacy on fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and weight change.

Methods: Sixty-three post-treatment stages 0-III borderline overweight and obese (body mass index ≥ 24 kg/m(2)) breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to a 6-month, facility- and home-based viniyoga intervention (n = 32) or a waitlist control group (n = 31). The yoga goal was five practices per week. Primary outcome measures were changes in QOL, fatigue, and weight from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in waist and hip circumference.

Results: It took 12 months to complete recruitment. Participants attended a mean of 19.6 classes and practiced at home a mean of 55.8 times during the 6-month period. At follow-up, 90% of participants completed questionnaires and 87% completed anthropometric measurements. QOL and fatigue improved to a greater extent among women in the yoga group relative to women in the control group, although no differences were statistically significant. Waist circumference decreased 3.1 cm (95% CI, -5.7 and -0.4) more among women in the yoga compared with the control group, with no difference in weight change.

Conclusions: This study provides important information regarding recruitment, retention, and practice levels achieved during a 6-month, intensive yoga intervention in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors. Yoga may help decrease waist circumference and improve quality of life; future studies are needed to confirm these results.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00476203.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of participant recruitment, enrollment, and retention
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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