Yoga 4 Body Image (Y4BI): Investigating the Impact of Yoga on Body Image and Eating Behaviours

NCT06724796 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 389
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The practice of yoga can positively impact body image, a psychological construct encompassing perceptual, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects, which can be either positive or negative. Negative body image manifests as extreme dissatisfaction with one's body-a condition particularly common among young women-that places them at significant risk for developing Body Image Disorders (BIDs). In contrast, positive body image is characterized by an overall respect for one's body. Current research on the impact of yoga on body image has several limitations, making it challenging to determine whether yoga practice truly has a positive effect on body image and to identify the mechanisms underlying this impact. To address these gaps, the present project aims to overcome the limitations of existing studies by investigating the impact of yoga on body image through quantitative methodologies and by exploring the mechanisms that drive this effect. The project consists of two phases:

1. 1.Investigating the impact of yoga on body image (both positive and negative) and eating behaviours in a population characterized by high levels of body dissatisfaction-young women.
2. 2.Examining the psychological mechanisms underlying yoga's impact on body image, including increased interoceptive awareness, embodiment, and self-compassion, as well as a reduction in self-objectification.

Conditions

Body Dissatisfaction; Body Image; Eating Behaviors

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Negative Body Image

  Assessed with the Questionario sul Dismorfmismo Corporo (QDC; Cerea et al., 2017), a self-report questionnaire assessing negative body image made up of 40 items.

  10 weeks

• Body Appreciation

  Assessed with the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2; Tylka \& Wood-Barcalow, 2015b, Casale et al., 2021), a self-report questionnaire assessing body appreciation made up of 10 items.

  10 weeks

• Functionality Appreciation

  Assessed with the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS; Alleva, Tylka \& Van Diest, 2017, Cerea et al., 2021), a self-report questionnaire assessing functionality appreciation made up of 7 items.

  10 weeks

• Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours and Risk of Developing Eating Disorders

  Assessed with the Eating Disorder Risk Composite Score of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3; Garner, 2004; Giannini, Pannocchia, Dalla Grave, Muratori \& Viglione, 2008), a self-report questionnaire assessing the risk of developing eating disorders

  10 weeks

• Functional Eating Behaviors

  Assessed with the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2; Tylka \& Kroon Van Diest, 2013, Swami et al., 2021), a self-report questionnaire assessing the ability to eat intuitively.

  10 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Embodiment

  10 weeks

• Interoceptive Awareness

  10 weeks

• Self-compassion

  10 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Y4BI

EXPERIMENTAL

The yoga classes will be conducted once a week, in groups, with each session lasting 1 hour. They will be led by a qualified instructor with over 10 years of teaching experience in yoga.

Other: Y4BI

ACTIVE

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The total body classes will take place once a week, with each session lasting one hour. They will be led by a kinesiology specialist in preventive and adapted physical activities.

Other: ACTIVE

Interventions

Y4BI OTHER

The yoga classes will follow the Iyengar method, one of the most widely practiced traditional yoga styles, aimed at promoting body alignment and precision in executing poses (asanas) through the use of props such as blankets, straps, cushions, chairs, and blocks, making the poses accessible to all individuals. The classes will be conducted once a week, in groups, with each session lasting 1 hour. They will be led by a qualified instructor with over 10 years of teaching experience in yoga. The classes will be adapted for beginners who do not practice yoga regularly.

Y4BI

ACTIVE OTHER

The total body classes will take place once a week, with each session lasting one hour. They will be led by a kinesiology specialist in preventive and adapted physical activities.

ACTIVE

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Females
• Age 18-35 years old

You may not qualify if:

• Regular yoga practice
• Pregnancy
• Medical conditions that preclude yoga practice (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, recent injuries, rheumatic conditions)
• Full-blown body image disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Padova: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of General Psychology, University of Padova

Padua, Italy, Italy

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Central Study Contacts

Silvia Cerea, PhD

CONTACT

++39 049 827 6683; silvia.cerea@unipd.it

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ph.D.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2024
• First Posted: December 9, 2024
• Study Start: November 30, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Last Updated: March 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)