OBESITY AND ITS AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

A complex, chronic disease with multiple causes which leads to excessive body fat and poor health is known as Obesity. Excessive body fat itself is not an illness, but if body has too much excess fat, it may alter how body operates. These changes are gradual, have the potential to get worse over time, and may have a negative impact on health.

Obesity raises the risk of several conditions and illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and some types of cancer. Body mass index (BMI), the most popular way to determine  the healthy weight. BMI measures average body weight against the average body height

Generally speaking, if  BMI is:

• Below 18.5 – Individual fall into underweight category.
• Between 18.5 to 24.9 – Individual is within health weight range
• Between 30 to 39.9 – Individual is in the obese range
• 40 or above – Individual is severely obese

One of the largest health issues in the modern period is obesity, whose prevalence has progressively grown in recent years. This is due to today’s work environment, sedentary life style and easy excess to fast foods, which have higher-calories and low-nutritional value.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF OBESITY?

Intake of more calories than the body can burn on a long term basis might lead to obesity. Over a period of time, the extra calories add up and lead to weight gain. There are some other causes which leads to obesity including :

• Genetics : Genetics might affect how body processes food into energy and storage of fat in body.
• Sleep : Not getting enough sleep might lead to hormonal changes which makes individual feel hungrier and crave for certain high-calorie food items.
• Growing Old : As individual grows older there is decrease in muscle mass and metabolism also slows down, which facilitates weight gain.
• Pregnancy : Weight gained during pregnancy may be difficult to lose thus leads to obesity.

There are certain health conditions which might lead to weight  gain. The conditions includes :

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) : There is imbalance of female reproductive hormones in the body thus leads to obesity.
• Prader-Willi Syndrome : This is a rare condition, which is present at birth and cause excessive hunger.
• Hypothyroidism : A condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive and do not produce enough of some important hormones thus cause obesity.
• Osteoarthritis and other conditions which causes pain might lead to reduce activities thus causes weight gain.
• Cushing Syndrome : A condition which is caused by having high cortisol levels in the

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OBESITY?

Some of the common symptoms experienced by obese individuals includes :

• Shortness of breath
• Snoring
• Excess body fat, mostly around waist
• Trouble sleeping
• Sweating more than usual
• Inability to perform simple physical tasks
• Skin problems brought on by moisture buildup in folds
• Psychological issues like depression, negative self-esteem, social isolation and shame.
• Fatigue
• Pain mostly in joints and back

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY?

If not managed properly obesity can lead to development of other health complications like :

• Type 2 diabetes
• Digestive problems like GRED, heartburn etc
• Sleep apnea
• Heart disease and strokes
• Osteoarthritis
• Kidney disease
• Asthma
• Hypertension

WHAT AYURVED SAYS ABOUT OBESITY?

In Ayurved obesity can be correlated with Atisthula. Due to intake of excessive sweet, heavy, cold and fatty diet, lack of physical exercise, lack of metal activities, uninterrupted cheerfulness etc leads to over norishement of meda(fat)  dhatu. The increased medha dhatu cause obstruction of the body channels which confines the vata movement specially to koshtha( abdomine). This leads to stimulation of digestive fire, thus the food is digested quickly. The quality of life quickly declines as a result of vitiated dosha, which abruptly causes serious ailments when the body develops excessive fat. When the person’s buttocks, belly, and breasts have an excessive gain in fat and muscle tissue, become pendulous, and experience poor energy and metabolism, this is referred to as being excessively obese.

HERBS :

• Musta
• Sunthi
• Guduchi
• Guggulu
• Vidanga
• Amla
• Daruharidra

PANCHAKARMA :

• Vaman
• Lekhan vasti
• Virechan
• Abhyang
• Udvartan
• Patra potali pinda sweda

CHANDIGARH AYURVED CENTRE MEDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF OBESITY :

1) Panchsakar Churna:

Panchsakar Churna is a classical herbal churna containing ingredients like pippali, haritaki, shunthi, trivrit, & sauvarchala lavana. These ingredients in combination remove all toxins out from the body & naturally detoxify. It cuts down extra fats & removes out. This herbal churna maintains the metabolism in the body.

Recommended dosage:Take 1 teaspoonful at bedtime with lukewarm water.

2) Trikatu tablet:

Trikatu tablets are pure ayurvedic preparation containing shunthi, maricha, & pippali in it. These herbal tablets deal with bloating, loss of appetite, constipation, reduces fats, maintain the overall metabolism of the body. The regular use of these tablets removes toxins from the body.

Recommended dosage:Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

3) Right Shape Kadha:

Right Shape Kada is a natural & herbal formula that provides maximum strength for burning fats, promotes a healthy metabolism, & controls appetite. This herbal kada is prepared from herbal ingredients such as saunf, amla, harad, baheda, ajwain, dalchini, haldi, bodhi tree leaves, green leaves herb that naturally cuts down extra fats.

Recommended dosage:Take 15ml after every meal.

4) Right Shape Tablet:

The right shape of CAC is an effective herbal supplement for natural weight loss. The herbs help to burn fats from the adipose tissue and also help in cellulite. IRREGULAR diet habits, excessive eating without any exercise leads to indigestion and further obesity

Recommended dosage:Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.