Increased Hatha yoga experience predicts lower body mass index and reduced medication use in women over 45 years.

Background: Yoga has been shown to have many short-term health benefits, but little is known about the extent to which these benefits accrue over a long time frame or with frequent practice.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which body mass index (BMI) and medication use in a sample of female yoga practitioners over 45 years varied according to the length and frequency of yoga practice.

Materials And Methods: We administered online surveys to 211 female yoga practitioners aged 45 to 80 years.