Managing obesity through Ayurveda

Obesity has killed more dreams than failure ever did. It affects every aspect of an individual’s life, from personal relationships to professional ones, from physical health to mental health. Not being confined just to middle-aged people, obesity is also found in children and infants too. Over time, it has been given names like “killing disease,” “exploding epidemic,” so on and so forth. It opens doors for a truckload of diseases to attack your body and weaken it from within.

A study conducted by WHO in April 2020 brought out the heinous face of how this disease is slowly spreading its roots and affecting generations. It has almost tripled in its records since 1975. In one of their research studies, NCBI states that nearly 39% of the adult population is affected by obesity globally. The number of affected ones in India, too, is appalling. Science direct, in its study, records nearly 135 million have been affected by obesity. The rampant rate at which it is affecting the Indian population is alarming. The prevalence rate of obesity and central obesity fluctuate from 11.8% to 31.3% and 16.9%–36.3%, respectively. This problem of obesity is preventable.

Causes of Obesity

Often Obesity is seen as a result of a person’s lifestyle and dietary choices. But that is not all. Obesity can exist due to many other powerful reasons like:

• Genetics and prenatal factors 
• Childhood eating habits 
• Medicines and Ailments 
• Imbalance in the hunger hormones and Leptin resistance 
• Enslaving and action-packed junk food 
• Disturbed gut bacteria 
• High quantity consumption of energy-dense food
• Untimely and overeating habits 
• Passive and sedentary lifestyle with no or little physical activity 
• Psychiatric illness
• Endocrine disorders

These are some of the commonly listed causes of obesity.

Symptoms of Obesity

It is crucial to watch out for these indications, which are known symptoms of obesity. 

• Panting and heavy breathing with little exertion or activity
• Lethargy and lack of interest in work and daily chores 
• Untimely and uncontrollable hunger 
• Excessive sweating and unpleasant body odor 
• Constant feeling of fatigue or feeling sluggish 
• Unordered and excess sleep 
• Excess accumulation of body fat 
• Poor self-esteem

Ayurveda for Obesity

According to Ayurveda, our body is constituted of seven Dhatus namely Rasa (Lymph), Rakta (Blood), Maans(Muscle), Meda (Fat), Asthi(bones), Majja(Nervous system), and Shukra(reproductive system). A person with high amounts of Meda(fats) in the body is obese in Ayurveda. Such individuals have a highly nourished Meda while the other Dhatus remain malnourished.

The term used for obesity in Ayurveda is Medarog, which results from the excessive presence of Kapha in the body. Kapha, by nature, is thick, bulky, slow, sticky, damp, and cold. When aggravated, it gathers up and blocks the 7 Dhatus in the body. This blockage leads to the creation of toxins in the body. These heavy and dense toxins build up in the body’s fat channels, resulting in a rise in fat tissues. The higher number of fat tissues is directly proportional to an increase in weight.

The starting point in Ayurveda to treat this is the calming of the Kapha dosha and bringing a nice balance between the three doshas. There are several ways, including food management, detox, cleanses, and also massages. One such therapeutic massage is Udvartana or Udwartana. This therapy is done using a mixture of herbal powders with oil, milk, or medicated juices. This formation is applied to massage in the upward direction into the body lasting about 30-45 minutes. This treatment is carried out for 14-28 days, depending on the requirement of the patient. The benefits of Udvartana or Udwartana are:

• Improved blood circulation
• Weight reduction in inches
• Reduced effects of skin diseases
• Muscle toning
• Removal of cellulite
• Liquefied the toxin for easy elimination 
• Deep relaxation 
• Skin nourishment
• Nurtures the body system.

The treatment receives support and better results with a proper diet. For the results to last effectively, the correction of this disease needs a lifestyle correction towards healthier ways. Some of the suggested dietary changes include:

• Intake of low fat and low-calorie items
• Consumption of protein in higher proportions
• Including baked/ steamed/ boiled food and excluding fried food
• Frequent small meals over irregular lager meals
• Make lemon and cabbage a part of the daily meals
• Warm water over a regular one 
• Change to the skimmed milk from whole milk 
• Include food items like Oatmeal, walnuts, salads, bitter gourd, drum sticks, barley, wheat, green gram, honey, Indian gooseberry or Amla, Pomegranate, and snake Gourd, etc
• Skimmed buttermilk
• Steer clear of food items like potato and rice 
• Avoid excessive sweets, dairy, fried, oily, salty, and fast food

Key Takeaways

The diet regime and Udvartana or Udwartana can help you get on track with obesity. But remember, obesity cannot be dealt with in 14-28 days. It is necessary to choose to be healthy every day. Including exercise, regular detox in Panchakarma, and good eating habits are the only way to support this therapy and its effects in the longer run.

Ayurveda provides a traditional, sustainable, and healthy way to lose those stubborn fats and shred those extra kilos. It is designed to administer weight loss without losing water from the body, giving you practical and long-lasting results. Recognizing obesity as a disease makes up for all the stigma and negativity attached to it.  

Randall Shawn Watkins, in his book ‘The human mechanic,’ states that

“Obesity is the mother of all diseases. Kill it before it kills you”.

 So take care of your body; after all, that’s the only place you have to live.

Frequently asked questions about Obesity

What causes obesity?

The primary reason that causes obesity is excessive consumption of food with little to no movement or exercise whatsoever. When there is an intake of high amounts of energy in sugar and fats, but there is no workout or physical activity, this pent-up energy converts into fats. When these fats accumulate in the body, it increases fat cells in the body, making an individual obese. 

Who is at risk for obesity?

Excess weight and obesity often open doors to a swarm of diseases like hypertension, diabetes, certain kinds of cancer, and arthritis. Besides those who practice an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle or those with genetic or hormonal disorders, even the rural population 60 years of age and above are at high risk of obesity.

What is class 3 obesity?

To better understand and treat this disease, obesity is classified into three types based on a person’s BMI. BMI in the range of 30 to

What are the types of obesity?

Obesity has various classifications, but the most commonly known are :

1. Obesity due to the area of fat accumulation
   1. Peripheral: Excessive fat deposits in the buttocks, thighs, and hips
   2. Central: Excessive fat deposits in the belly region 
   3. Combination: Fat accumulation in both central and peripheral areas. 
2. Obesity due to some diseases
   1. Type 1 obesity: It is not a result of a pre-existing disease or any disease. This is caused due to uncontrolled intake of calories and very little to no physical activity to burn them. 
   2. Type 2: Type 2 obesity is a result of internal secretion diseases like polycystic ovarian disease, hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, and insulinoma, etc., which cause an abnormal weight gain even if the calorie intake is minimal. 
3. Obesity due to the size and number of fat cells
   1. Adult type: It is caused when only the size of the fat cells increases and it usually occurs in middle age. 
   2. Child type: It is a result of an increase in the number of fat cells. Reducing the number of these already made cells can be challenging. 

What is the fastest way to cure obesity?

Obesity can be treated through various methods. However, to begin with, the following are the ones you can start with:

• Dietary changes (replacing fatty, sugary, and salty food items with healthier ones)
• Regular exercise and physical activity 
• Weight management through medication 
• Hormone balancing treatment 
• Inducing browning of fat white cells 

What exercise is good for obesity? 

Ideally, exercise in any form is beneficial and effective for weight loss. But to see effective results for obesity, you can try:

• Yoga brings about mindfulness and improves overall physical and mental health.
• Walking is the best exercise for beginners.
• Jogging and running are cardio exercises and help to burn the visceral fat 
• Cycling is practical for insulin sensitivity
• Weight training helps to bring up the resting metabolic rate 
• Zumba is an effective high-intensity cardio exercise also good for toning 
• Pilates improves strength, flexibility, and overall endurance
• Interval training, also known as HIIT, burns those stubborn belly fats
• Swimming improves the overall flexibility and reduces cholesterol, and blood triglycerides 

Which Ayurvedic medicine is best for weight loss?

There are a few effective listed botanical and herbal remedies that can help with weight management. However, it is better to seek expert advice before going for self remedies. Some listed herbs are: 

• Punarnava.
• Aloe vera.
• Ajwain.
• Lemon-honey.
• Pepper (piperine)
• Cabbage horse gram.
• Ginger-garlic lemon.

What is the Ayurvedic treatment for weight loss?

Ayurveda has many practical and lasting treatments for weight loss, such as Udhwartna, Abhyanga, and Panchkarma. Udhwartna requires deep and dry massages with herbal powder and pastes. In contrast, Abhyanga requires massage with specific oils followed by a herbal steam bath to help the fat accumulate for elimination. Apart from these two, Panchkarma is also an effective therapy for weight loss. Along with any of these, it is crucial to follow the diet regime and practice an active lifestyle for better results and benefits. Yoga too plays a vital role in effective weight loss. Dhanurasana, Bhujangasana, Shalabasana, Ardhamatsyendrasana, Trikonasana, and Vakrasana are effective yoga postures that enable the loss of extra fat from the body.

**The benefits of Ayurveda vary from person to person and the results may vary immensely based on the quality of the herbs, oil concoctions and medicines. BalanceBoat.com is not responsible or liable for the effectiveness and outcome of the Ayurvedic treatments. The information above is shareable purely for educational purpose it is not to be considered as a replacement for medical advice. Please always consult a certified specialist/Doctor before you embark upon a treatment.