If you are middle-aged and overweight, try yoga. For, a study has just confirmed what practitioners of the mind-body healing technique have always known.

Researchers led by Alan R. Kristal, professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, asked 15,500 healthy, middle-aged men and women to complete a written survey recalling their physical activity - including yoga - and weight history between the ages of 45 and 55, reports science portal eurekalert.org.

The study - said to be the first of its kind - looked at the impact of yoga on weight change, independent of other factors such as diet or other types of physical activity.

The researchers found that from the age of 45 to 55, most people gained about a pound (about 0.5 kg) a year, which is a common pattern as people age and do not adjust their caloric intake to their declining energy needs.

"However, men and women who were of normal weight at age 45 and regularly practised yoga gained about three fewer pounds during that 10-year period than those who didn't practise yoga," the study said.

For the study, regular yoga practice was defined as practising at least 30 minutes once a week for four or more years.

But the researchers noted the greatest effect of regular yoga practice was among people who were overweight.

"Men and women who were overweight and practised yoga lost about five pounds, while those who did not practise yoga gained about 14 pounds in that 10-year period," it said.