Efficacy of Mindful Tai Chi on Obese or Overweight Adults: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Overview

Background: * New weight-loss intervention programs are being studied to determine their effectiveness in helping overweight and obese individuals reach a healthy weight. However, these programs often have not been tested against each other, and researchers are interested in determining which interventions are most effective both immediately and over the long term in promoting and maintaining weight loss. * Mindful Tai Chi is a combined form of the meditative martial art tai chi and the practice of mindfulness meditation. Tai chi and mindfulness meditation both have common philosophical underpinnings that address health promotion and well-being by applying the skill of non-judgmental awareness on a moment-to-moment daily basis. More research is needed on whether Mindful Tai Chi and mindfulness meditation can help improve various health factors in overweight and obese individuals. Objectives: \- To compare the effects of Mindful Tai Chi, mindfulness meditation, walking, or a discussion group on the weight and well being of overweight and obese participants. Eligibility: \- Healthy individuals at least 18 years of age who are either overweight or obese (body mass index between 25 and 40), have a sedentary lifestyle (have not engaged in more than 1 hour of aerobic exercise per week within the last month), and are willing to commit to a specific weight-loss intervention program. Design: * This study involves four visits for collecting information and 12 weeks of research study activities. * During the first visit, participants will hear information about the study and may ask any questions. They will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, and those eligible will be assigned to one of the four study groups: Mindful Tai Chi (MTC), Mindfulness Meditation (MM), Mall Walking (MW), or Weekly Discussion (WD) group. * For the second visit, participants will give blood and urine samples, receive an abdominal ultrasound, ride a stationary bicycle for 5 minutes, and fill out health-related questionnaires. * For 12 weeks, participants will be involved in the following activities depending on their group: * MTC: Class for 2 hours per week, emphasizing the meditation aspects of tai chi. Each session will include at least 20 minutes of meditation. Participants will receive written instructions and an accompanying DVD in comparable formats specifying a minimum of 30 minutes of daily home assignment. In weeks 2 and 8, participants will have a workshop for mindfulness skill application in daily activity. * MM: Class for 2 hours per week of mindfulness meditation. Participants will receive written instructions and an accompanying DVD in comparable formats specifying a minimum of 30 minutes of daily home assignment. In weeks 2 and 8, participants will have a workshop for mindfulness skill application in daily activity. * MW: Participants will meet at a designated mall location once a week for 2-hour walk. * WD: Participants will meet at the National Institutes of Health for weekly weight-loss discussion. * For the third and fourth visits, participants will receive the same procedures as those used in the second visit. These visits will occur at the end of the 12-week activity period and at a 3-month follow up visit.