https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28063513

Weight and body satisfaction in women is sadly more of an uncommon than a common phenomenon. In a recent cross-cultural study, 91% of women stated that they hate their bodies. This is immeasurably sad.

In this recent study, researchers explored whether yoga or meditation use is associated with body (dis)satisfaction and weight control methods in Australian women. Women between the ages of 34 and 39 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were surveyed regarding body satisfaction, weight control behaviours, and yoga and meditation practice.

This was a MASSIVE study! Of the 8009 women studied, at least one in four of them with normal BMI were dissatisfied with body weight and shape, as were more than two in three women classified as being overweight/obesity.

Yoga/meditation was practiced frequently by 688 women (8.6%) and occasionally by 1176 women (14.7%). Yoga/meditation users with normal BMI were less likely to be dissatisfied with body weight and shape. All yoga/meditation users were more likely to exercise and to follow a low glycemic diet or diet books.

Researchers concluded that yoga/meditation users with normal BMI appear to be more satisfied with their body weight and shape than non-yoga/meditation users. While women with normal BMI or overweight tend to rely on healthy weight control methods, women with obesity occasionally using yoga/meditation may be more likely to continue to use unhealthy weight control methods.