Increasing Trend of Yoga Practice Among U.S. Adults From 2002 to 2017.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Secondary analysis of repeated cross-sectional survey data (NHIS).
PubMed 34076530 · doi:10.1089/acm.2020.0506
What was done
Secondary analysis of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) across four cohorts (2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017). Population weights were applied to estimate yoga practice prevalence among American adults. Descriptive statistics characterized sociodemographic and health profiles, and multivariable logistic regression evaluated factors associated with yoga use over time.
What was found
Yoga practice prevalence increased from 5.1% in 2002 (weighted estimate 10,386,456) to 13.7% in 2017 (weighted estimate 32,761,194). Typical users were young, non-Hispanic white, single females with a bachelor's degree or higher, health insurance, and residence in the western United States. A change in the pattern of yoga use over time was significantly related only to younger age (p < 0.001) and not to other sociodemographic or health-related factors.
Why it matters
This paper tracks 15-year population-level trends in adult yoga adoption in the U.S., confirming substantial growth driven mainly by younger demographics.
Limits
The total sample size (n) is not reported in the abstract. Data rely on self-reported survey responses subject to recall and reporting bias. The cross-sectional design captures prevalence rather than longitudinal individual trajectories, and practice frequency, style, and duration are not detailed in the abstract.