Evaluating the Effects of Yoga on the Body Mass Index and Heart Rate among Individuals with Substance Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Drug addiction significantly impacts physical and psychological health, often resulting in challenges such as weight management issues and cardiovascular irregularities. Yoga, a holistic practice, may serve as an adjunctive therapy to address these concerns. To evaluate the effects of yoga on body mass index (BMI) and heart rate (HR) in individuals undergoing drug addiction rehabilitation. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 participants from a rehabilitation center in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The participants were divided into four groups: Asana, Pranayama, a combination of Asana and Pranayama, and a control group. The intervention spanned 12 weeks with 30-min sessions three times a week. The Asana group (Mean-23.051) presented the most significant BMI reduction, followed by the Asana + Pranayama group (Mean-23.456) and the Pranayama group (Mean-23.851). The Pranayama group (Mean-67.950) significantly improved HR, followed by Asana + Pranayama group (Mean-68.603) and the Asana group (Mean-68.859) compared with the control group. Yoga has potential as an adjunctive therapy for improving BMI and HR in individuals recovering from drug addiction, making it a valuable component of holistic rehabilitation programs.