Effect of Yogic Practices Combined with Mindfulness Meditation on Body Mass Index, Lipid Profile, and Quality of Life among Middle-Aged Obese Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, reducing quality of life. While diet and medication help, non-pharmacological approaches like yoga and mindfulness show promise. However, evidence on their combined effects on BMI, lipid profile, and QoL in obese women remains limited. Methods: This RCT included 60 middle-aged obese women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), randomly assigned to an intervention group (Group A, n = 30) or a control group (Group B, n = 30). Group A followed a 12-week supervised program with yogic practices (45 min/day, 5 days/week) and mindfulness meditation (15 min/day, 5 days/week), while Group B maintained their usual lifestyle. Primary outcomes included BMI and lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), with QoL assessed via the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Measurements were taken at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: After 12 weeks, Group A exhibited a significant reduction in BMI (↓8.4%, p = 0.002) and improvements in lipid parameters, including total cholesterol (↓10.5%, p = 0.009), LDL (↓13.9%, p = 0.004), triglycerides (↓9.6%, p = 0.023), and an increase in HDL (↑10.4%, p = 0.018). Additionally, QoL significantly improved in Group A across physical, psychological, and well-being domains (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. No significant improvements were observed in Group B. Conclusions: Yogic practices with mindfulness meditation improved BMI, lipid profile, and QoL in middle-aged obese women. These findings support yoga and mindfulness as effective non-pharmacological interventions for obesity. Larger studies with longer follow-ups are recommended to assess the sustainability of these benefits.