Obesity : An Ayurveda Prospective

Abstract

Obesity is widely regarded as a pandemic, with potentially distress consequences for human health. In developing countries, average national rate of obesity is low, but these figures may distinguish higher rates of obesity in urban communities. There is increasing public awareness of the heath implications of obesity. Many patient are seeking medical help for their overweight, other present with one or more of the complications of obesity, and increasing numbers are being identified during health screening examinations. WHO states that, about 250 million cases of obesity are being reported every year. Many efforts are being made to find out a reliable remedy for this burning problem, so many concepts and medicine are introduced by modern practitioner but they are not free from side effects. In Ayurveda, Sthaulya (obesity) is a condition where, due to aggravation of Doshas, there is improper transformation of nutrition, more of Medodhatu is formed and inappropriate nutrition goes to nourish other Dhatus of body. In Ayurveda, this condition is managed with multiple concepts of correcting the states of Dhatu and Doshas. Many Medohara drugs have been mentioned and can be used but the selection of the drug should be made accurately on the basis of patients physiology and with respect to Dosha, Desha, Kala etc. Therefore here an attempt is made, to understand Sthaulya (Obesity) from both modern and Ayurvedic concepts and to discuss the management of the condition from Ayurvedic point of view.