Obesity
statistics are increasing all over the world and it is becoming one the world's
biggest health problem. Recent reports suggest that it may soon overtake
cigarette smoking as a serious health risk. These statistics are alarming
because being overweight, and especially being obese, increases our risk of
many health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain
cancers, stroke, back and joint pain, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure,
gallstones, fatty liver, infertility, breathlessness, depression, insomnia,
etc.
The
Problem
Being
obese is not a cosmetic issue. Obesity is not a sign of a person being out of
control. It is a serious medical disease that affects over a quarter of adults
in the United States, and about 14% of children and adolescents. A report from
the National Audit Office concluded that obesity could shave an average of nine
years from our lifespan. Obesity needs to be treated early in life to prevent
the long-term complications later in life.
Causes
The
most obvious cause of obesity is eating more than the body needs or when food
energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, fat cells throughout the body take in
the energy and store it as fat. Other factors that contribute to obesity are
genetic factors and genetic disorders, an underlying illness, eating disorders,
consumption of certain medications, leading a sedentary lifestyle, a high
glycemic diet (i.e. a diet that shows gives a high post prandial blood sugar
reading), stress, etc.
The
Tridosha
In
Ayurveda every human being is a unique phenomenon of cosmic energy, which
manifests itself thought the three basic elements or the “Tridosha” - Vata -
Air, Pitta- Fire and Kapha - Water. Each individual's constitution has its own
unique balance of these three energies. When this “doshic” balanced is
disturbed it leads causes damage to normal bodily functions leading to various
health disorders and diseases.
Obesity
is cause by an imbalance ' Kapha - Water Energy'. According to Ayurveda, people
with a Kapha (Water) constitution are more likely to gain weight through excess
fat than a Pitta (Fire) or Vata (Air) person. People with an imbalance in their
Kapha energy have to take that little extra care to avoid putting on those
unwanted pounds.
Obesity
and Ayurveda
In
the Ayurvedic texts, 'Charakacharya' has described eight 'nindya prakruties'
(undesirable constitution) of the body; obesity is one of them and is described
as 'Medoroga'. In an Obese person individual Medas (Fat) is excessively
nourished and remaining other Dhatus get malnourished. Kapha gets accumulated
in between. When Kapha increases in abnormal fashion, Fat metabolism gets
hampered and person becomes Obese.
Ayurvedic treatment for Obesity is achieved
through a combination of:
Panchakarma therapy - Includes five types of therapies,
which are mainly used for purification or elimination of toxins. For weight
loss Virechana (Purgation Treatment) or Basti (Medicated Enema) are
recommended, depending on the individual health.
Diet management - It is not only the quantity of food
that is important, but also the type of food one eats. One should eat the
correct food, cooked the Ayurvedic way in the right quantity and at the correct
time.
Udvartana Massage - Here herbal paste and powders are
applied all over the body and deeply massaged with specific movements. This
massage tones the skin, removes cellulite, loosens fat molecules and eliminates
them from the sub-cutaneous level and removes Kapha toxins from the body.
Herbal supplements - Medicines can be of great benefit in
weight control without the negative side effects of conventional drugs. These
medicines improve fat metabolism in an obese person.
Therapeutic Yoga - Yoga not only helps one loose weight
but also enhances the healing potential of Ayurveda.
Pranayamas - Are the Ayurvedic breathing
techniques, which brings about tremendous benefits, such as increased energy,
increased perception and development of various brain faculties.
The
Ayurvedic weight loss program, besides the immediate weight-loss, cleans out
toxins from your body and allows it to function more efficiently promoting an
overall feeling of health and wellness.
