Study Explores Yoga’s Potential Effects on Stress-Related Biological Markers in People With Severe Obesity

Researchers have investigated whether regular yoga practice can influence biological processes associated with obesity in people preparing to undergo bariatric surgery. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, examined changes in hormonal, metabolic, inflammatory and genetic markers following a structured three-month yoga programme.

The research involved 40 adults with severe obesity, divided equally into a yoga group and a comparison group. Participants in the yoga group attended supervised sessions using the PRANA_it yoga protocol, while those in the comparison group continued with standard care without a structured yoga intervention.

The researchers assessed several health indicators, including plasma noradrenaline, inflammatory markers, vitamin D levels, physical functioning and DNA methylation. Noradrenaline is a hormone and neurotransmitter associated with the body's stress response and sympathetic nervous system activity.

After accounting for baseline differences, the yoga group showed a significant reduction in plasma noradrenaline compared with the control group. However, the researchers did not find significant changes in DNA methylation involving the three inflammatory genes examined: TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP. Differences in physical functioning and vitamin D levels were also not statistically significant after baseline adjustment.

The findings suggest that yoga may be associated with certain physiological changes during preparation for bariatric surgery. However, the study was observational rather than randomised, and its relatively small sample limits the conclusions that can be drawn. The researchers cautioned that the results do not establish that yoga directly caused the observed changes.

The authors recommend larger randomised controlled trials with longer follow-up periods to determine whether yoga produces consistent biological benefits in people with severe obesity. Further research could also clarify whether longer programmes influence inflammatory pathways or other molecular processes that were not significantly altered in this study.

09-10-2026