Weight Management

Are you obese? Or just over-weight? Confused?? So before talking about weight management , let us discuss about these two terms.

OBESITY AND OVER-WEIGHT

Do you know that Obesity is now one of the leading causes of death world-wide? It has become a pandemic. Even children are affected resulting in various diseases.

Ayurveda includes obesity under the 8 most undesirable physical constitutions.

HOW CAN WE KNOW WHETHER IT IS OBESITY OR OVER-WEIGHT?

You all might have heard about BMI or Body Mass Index. Here is how you calculate BMI:-

BMI = (Weight of the individual in Kg) / (Height in meter) power of 2

The fat in body increases mainly in buttocks, abdomen and breast regions.

The fat is distributed in body generally as:-

• Intra- abdominal fat – The deposition of fat in this region makes the body “apple – shaped”. This is common in men, person suffering from Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome.
• Subcutaneous Fat – The deposition of fat in this region makes the body “pear – shaped”.

CAUSES OF OBESITY AND OVER-WEIGHT

Main causes are listed below:-

• The Genes
• Endocrine Disorders and other diseases:- Variations of thyroid hormones, PCOS, Mental Disorders etc.
• Changing Lifestyle:-

• Increased intake of food in large quantities
• Increased intake of food which is rich in fat
• Decreased exercise
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Passive leisure activities

Ayurveda explain the causes as:-

• Intake of heavy foods
• Lack of Physical Exercise
• Day sleep
• Heredity

COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY

Being obese can result in:-

• Various life-style diseases like Type II Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia that can cause Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke etc.
• The fat accumulation in Liver can result in conditions like Cirrhosis.
• Many other complications like Exertional Dyspnoea, Sleep apnoea, Respiratory failure etc.
• Varicose veins, Osteoarthritis
• Low self-esteem, Depression
• Colorectal cancer
• Decrease in life-expectancy

The obesity results in increased mortality and morbidity.

Losing WEIGHT: Tackling Obesity

The health risks caused by obesity are largely reversible. Therefore managing body weight helps to reverse complications that arise from obesity. This can be attained by:-

• • Balanced and healthy eating pattern/ weight loss diet
  • Increased physical activity
  • Practicing Yoga/ aerobics

• Internal and External Ayurvedic Medications

Ayurvedic Treatments

• Udwartanam – “ Udwartanam Kashayadi Choorna Gatra Karshanam”

Udwartana is the reinforced rubbing of the body using medicated powders. A variant of Udwartana known as Udgharshanam – in which a mixture of medicated powders and oil are used to rub on the skin. These treatments are also beneficial in diabetes mellitus associated with obesity, various neurological conditions like MND etc.

• Panchakarmas

A person who follows the Daily Regimen advised by Ayurveda can control weight and stay healthy.

REFERENCES:-

• Davidson’s Principles and Practise of Medicine
• Principles and Practice of Panchakarma
• Charaka Samhitha