Althea Medical Journal
Vol 12, No 2 (2025)

Yoga Reduces Body Shape Dissatisfaction Among Young Adults

Lians, Airine Stefanie (Unknown)
Handayani, Maria Dara Novi (Unknown)
Dewi, Angela Shinta (Unknown)
Lilis, Lilis (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Jun 2025

Abstract

Background: Body shape dissatisfaction is frequently experienced by young adults and may negatively impact mental well-being.  Yoga is increasingly recognized as a non-pharmacological intervention to support body image and self-acceptance. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of yoga in reducing body shape dissatisfaction among young adults.Methods: A pre-post experimental study was conducted in 2022 among young adults experiencing body shapes dissatisfaction, selected through purposive sampling. The Body Shape Questionnaire-34 (BSQ-34) was used to measure dissatisfaction, with a total score >80 indicating dissatisfaction. Participants were randomly assigned to a yoga intervention group or a control group. The intervention group practiced Yoga Asana (posture) and Pranayama (breathing) three times per week for ten weeks via online sessions.  The BSQ-34 was distributed before and after intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and SPSS version 22.0. Results: A total of 477 participants from a faculty of medicine in Jakarta, Indonesia were included; 45.3% were identified as dissatisfied with their body shape. In the yoga group, the BSQ-34 score significantly decreased after the intervention (p <0.05), indicating reduced dissatisfaction. In contrast, the control group showed a slight increase in average BSQ-34 score.Conclusions: Practicing Yoga Asana and Pranayama significantly reduce body shape dissatisfaction among young adults. Therefore, yoga may serve as a healthy choice that helps improve body image and overall mental well-being in young adults.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

amj

Publisher

Subject

Medicine & Pharmacology

Description

Althea Medical Journal (AMJ) is a peer reviewed electronic scientific publication journal which is published every 3 months (March, June, September, and December). Althea Medical Journal publishes articles related to research in biomedical sciences, clinical medicine, family-community medicine, and ...