The impact of yoga on body image in adults: A systematic review of quantitative studies

Abstract

Evidence suggests that yoga can be used as an intervention to improve body image. This systematic review evaluates the evidence of the efficacy of yoga in improving body image among adults. Authors followed PRISMA guidelines, searching Pubmed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CINHAL, PsycInfo, and grey literature up to December 2, 2023 and identifying 446 unique records. Eligibility criteria included English-language, peer-reviewed studies with quantitative data on adult populations. Twenty-nine studies were eligible for inclusion and were evaluated for methodological quality using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Interventions focused solely on yoga varied in length, frequency, and style. Our synthesis revealed that yoga is associated with improved body satisfaction and appreciation, as well as reduced body dissatisfaction, across diverse adult populations, including those with clinical or subclinical levels of body dissatisfaction. Most low- and moderate-quality studies reported significant improvements, and some suggested a dose-response relationship. However, the evidence is limited by methodological weaknesses, such as a lack of blinding and inadequate reporting. Despite these limitations, findings support yoga as a promising intervention for improving body image in adults. Future research should aim for methodologically rigorous studies that use validated outcome measures and more inclusive populations.