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Yoga with Behavioral Weight Loss Interventions (Diet and Aerobic Exercise) to Reduce Obesity and Improve Health in Overweight and Obese Adults, MOVE for Health Study

Trial Status: active

This clinical trial compares the effect of adding yoga to behavioral weight loss interventions including diet and aerobic exercise to diet and aerobic exercise alone on weight loss and other measures of health in obese and overweight adults. Excess body weight and an unhealthy amount of body fat (obesity) is associated with a number of adverse health consequences including cardiovascular disease and the number of overweight and obese adults have been increasing at a rapid rate in the United States. Most behavioral weight loss interventions typically include aerobic forms of exercise and have been shown to improve weight loss when compared to diet changes alone. Eating a diet low in total calories and fat may prevent the development of some conditions including heart disease and some weight related cancers. Aerobic exercise is physical activity that increases the heart rate and the body's use of oxygen. It helps improve a person's physical fitness. Yoga is an ancient system of practices used to balance the mind and body through exercise, meditation (focusing thoughts), and control of breathing and emotions and is thought to further enhance weight loss efforts. Adding yoga to diet and aerobic exercise may be more effective than diet and aerobic exercise alone in improving weight loss in overweight and obese patients.