Yoga has long been known as a calming practice that helps people relax and stretch their bodies. Many people use it to reduce stress, improve flexibility, and feel more balanced.
But new research suggests that yoga may do more than that. It could also help improve heart and metabolic health, especially in people who are overweight or obese.
Health problems related to weight are becoming more common around the world. When people carry extra body weight, their risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and problems with blood sugar increases.
These conditions are often grouped together because they affect both the heart and the body’s energy systems. Managing these risks is an important goal for public health.
Exercise is one of the best ways to improve these conditions. However, not all exercise is suitable for everyone. Some people may find it difficult to run, lift weights, or do high-intensity workouts. This is why gentle forms of exercise, such as yoga, are gaining attention.
A study published in PLOS Global Public Health looked closely at this question. Led by Widya Wasityastuti from the University of Edinburgh, the research team gathered results from 30 different studies. This type of research, called a meta-analysis, allows scientists to combine many smaller studies to get a clearer overall picture.
The studies included 2,689 participants from different countries. Most were from Asia, but some were from Western countries such as the United States, Germany, and Australia. All participants were considered overweight or obese based on standard guidelines.
The researchers examined several health markers. These included blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, inflammation, and antioxidant levels. These markers are commonly used to measure cardiometabolic health.
The results showed that yoga was linked to noticeable improvements in blood pressure. Both systolic and diastolic pressure were reduced. Lower blood pressure is important because it reduces strain on the heart and lowers the risk of serious conditions such as heart attack and stroke.
The study also found smaller improvements in cholesterol levels. These changes may help lower the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease. While the effects were not large, they were consistent across many studies.
One reason yoga may be helpful is that it combines several beneficial elements. It involves gentle physical activity, controlled breathing, and relaxation techniques. Together, these can reduce stress, improve blood flow, and support healthy body function.
Despite these positive findings, the study also has important limitations. The researchers noted that the studies did not clearly measure how much yoga is needed to achieve benefits. While many participants practiced around three hours per week, this is not a firm recommendation.
Another issue is that most participants were from similar backgrounds, mainly in Asian countries. This means the results may not fully represent other populations. In addition, people with other health conditions were often excluded, so it is unclear how yoga would affect those with more complex health needs.
Because the study combined existing research rather than conducting a new experiment, it cannot prove cause and effect. It shows a relationship between yoga and better health outcomes, but other factors may also be involved.
Even so, the findings are valuable. They suggest that yoga could be a simple and accessible way to support health. It may be especially useful for people who find other forms of exercise difficult.
In summary, this research suggests that yoga may help improve blood pressure and other aspects of cardiometabolic health in people who are overweight or obese. While more research is needed to confirm these results, yoga appears to offer more than relaxation. It may play a role in improving long-term health in a gentle and sustainable way.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
Source: University of Edinburgh.
