Purpose To obtain estimates of time to recruit the study sample, retention, facility-based class attendance and home practice for a study of yoga in breast cancer survivors, and its efficacy on fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and weight change. Methods Sixty-three post-treatment stages 0–III borderline overweight and obese (body mass index ≥24 kg/m²) breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to a 6-month, facility- and home-based viniyoga intervention (n = 32) or a waitlist control group (n = 31). The yoga goal was five practices per week. Primary outcome measures were changes in QOL, fatigue, and weight from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in waist and hip circumference. Results It took 12 months to complete recruitment. Participants attended a mean of 19.6 classes and practiced at home a mean of 55.8 times during the 6-month period. At follow-up, 90% of participants completed questionnaires and 87% completed anthropometric measurements. QOL and fatigue improved to a greater extent among women in the yoga group relative to women in the control group, although no differences were statistically significant. Waist circumference decreased 3.1 cm (95% CI, −5.7 and −0.4) more among women in the yoga compared with the control group, with no difference in weight change. Conclusions This study provides important information regarding recruitment, retention, and practice levels achieved during a 6-month, intensive yoga intervention in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors. Yoga may help decrease waist circumference and improve quality of life; future studies are needed to confirm these results.

Nonresponse bias in a longitudinal study could affect the magnitude and direction of measures of association. We identified sociodemographic, behavioral, military, and health-related predictors of response to the first follow-up questionnaire in a large military cohort and assessed the extent to which nonresponse biased measures of association.

To improve the health of overweight and obese veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) developed the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans. The aim of this evaluation was to assess its reach and effectiveness. We extracted data on program involvement, demographics, medical conditions, and outcomes from VA administrative databases in 4 Western states. Eligibility criteria for MOVE! were being younger than 70 years and having a body mass index (BMI, in kg/m2) of at least 30.0, or 25.0 to 29.9 with an obesity-related condition. To evaluate reach, we estimated the percentage of eligible veterans who participated in the program and their representativeness. To evaluate effectiveness, we estimated changes in weight and BMI using multivariable linear regression. Less than 5% of eligible veterans participated, of whom half had only a single encounter. Likelihood of participation was greater in women, those with a higher BMI, and those with more primary care visits, sleep apnea, or a mental health condition. Likelihood of participation was lower among those who were younger than 55 (vs 55-64), widowed, current smokers, and residing farther from the medical center (≥30 vs <30 miles). At 6- and 12-month follow-up, participants lost an average of 1.3 lb (95% confidence interval [CI], −2.6 to −0.02 lb) and 0.9 lb (95% CI, −2.0 to 0.1 lb) more than nonparticipants, after covariate adjustment. More intensive treatment (≥6 encounters) was associated with greater weight loss at 12 months (−3.7 lb; 95% CI, −5.1 to −2.3 lb). Few eligible patients participated in the program during the study period, and overall estimates of effectiveness were low.

Veterans comprise a large and growing segment of the US population. Results from national telephone surveys suggest higher prevalence of overweight among Veterans compared with demographically similar non‐Veterans, based on self‐reported height and weight. Using 1999–2008 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we compared 3,768 Veterans and 21,974 non‐Veterans on: (i) several measures of adiposity based on direct anthropometry; (ii) life‐course of self‐reported BMI; and (iii) behaviors related to weight loss or maintenance. Whether Veterans were more likely than demographically similar non‐Veterans to be obese or overweight depended on the adiposity measure employed. On BMI, Veterans were about equally likely to be obese (30+ kg/m²), but more likely to be overweight (25–29.9 kg/m²) by both self‐report and by direct measurement (significantly so only by self‐report). On waist‐stature ratio, a roughly similar pattern was observed. On waist circumference, Veterans tended to have larger values than demographically similar non‐Veterans, with more Veterans in the largest two categories. But on dual‐photon X‐ray absorptiometry, Veterans were less likely to have 35+% body fat than non‐Veterans of similar age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Life‐course trends in self‐reported BMI suggested a possible burst of weight gain after military discharge. These results suggest that Veterans may, on average, have less excess body fat than non‐Veterans—a pattern not revealed by standard anthropometric measures.