Obesity is a condition in which an individual is significantly overweight  and an excessive amount of body fat has accumulated under the chin and on the belly, buttocks, and on thighs. Though it is not a serious case in itself, it may shorten the span of life, as well as create diminished efficiency and happiness. 

Causes of obesity:

Includes overeating, excessive intake of heavy or cold food and drinks, oversleeping, lack of exercise, frequent snacking, eating processed food and leftovers, eating while multi-tasking and eating food that is not suitable to one’s body type.

Excessive weight gain is caused when people consume more calories than the body needs—occurring most commonly due to eating a diet high in fat and calories, being sedentary, or both. This imbalance between calories consumed and calories burned, however, can also be caused by a number of different obesity-related factors such as genetic, hormonal, behavioral, environmental and to some extent cultural. There are many other factors causing obesity such as pregnancy, tumors as well as endocrine disorders and medications that include psychotic drugs, estrogens, corticosteroids and insulin.

Symptoms:

  • Increased body fat
  • Breathlessness on exertion
  • Lethargy
  • Fatigue
  • Excessive sweating with bad odor

Ayurveda and its approach:

In Ayurveda, obesity is regarded as medoroga, a disorder of meda dhatu, which includes fat tissue and fat metabolism. According to Ayurveda obesity begins with imbalance of doshas (Vata, Pita, and Kapha), an imbalance of agni (digestive fire), an imbalance of the malas (waste products) or an imbalance of shrotas (microcirculatory channels).

This collection of imbalances then interferes with the formation of tissues or dhatus and leads to a tissue imbalance that we experience as excess weight. From the Ayurvedic perspective, the key cause is found in lifestyle and diet choices that disrupt balance.

Ayurvedic word for digestion and metabolism is agni. Agni having remarkable transformative qualities which help to achieve good health. All the food what we take in our body must be transformed into that which can be made useful by the body (nutrients) and that which is not needed is  (waste). The nutrients (most refined products) of our agni, are used to create the body’s tissues. ( dhatus).

According to Ayurveda to maintain balance and health strong agni and clear shrotasas are essential.

From Ayurvedic perspective the cause of weight gains is cyclical. It begins with balance reducing choices in diet and lifestyle that weaken the digestive fire, which in turns increases toxins, clogging the communication channels shrotas and thereby disrupting the formation of tissues. The poorly formed tissue layers increases meda dhatu and an imbalance in Kapha Dosha. This in turn increases accumulation of toxins (ama), which leads to imbalance in meda dhatu.

Accumulation of ama in shrotas causes an imbalance in naturally-flowing Vata energy.

Restricted or imbalanced Vata energy ends up increasing agni – the digestive fire – leading to an increase in appetite and thirst. This leads in turn to an increase in Kapha Dosha and meda dhatu and the whole cycle starts again.

To break the cycle, the Ayurvedic vaidya  determines the unique nature of the individual

(Prakriti) and the nature of imbalance (Vikriti). The essence of recommendation is generally comes down to addressing a few core issues: strengthening digestion (balance agni), removing ama, improving dietary habits and adjusting inappropriate daily routines and lowering stress.

Ayurvedic Tips for obesity:

In order to lose weight and reach optimal level of agni (metabolism) it is important to avoid the following:

  • Avoid overeating and/or eating heavy foods in large quantities
  • Avoid : Leftovers, processed, canned foods, fast food or food with additives and colorings
  • Avoid ice cold water and drinks and cold foods
  • Quit drinking alcohol and smoking
  • Avoid cruciferous vegetables, fried foods and heavy foods
  • Do not talk or laugh while eating. Do not eat on the run or while watching TV

    In order to be healthy and increase the digestive power (agni) while losing weight, the following steps should be followed:

  • Eat fresh and seasonal vegetables and fruit.
  • Eat freshly cooked warm food. It strengthens agni, digests food better, reduces excess Kapha and Vata
  • Eat food, which has enough oil, and is moist enough (not fried). It tastes better, helps agni, builds dhatus, and increases strength.
  • Do not eat food with wrong combination. E.g. Honey and ghee when combined in equal quantities is poisonous. Mixing sour fruits and milk.
  • Consuming wheat products than rice products help to reduce obesity
  • Eat only when you are hungry.
  • Eat three meals a day and avoid snacking.
  • Eat light meals for breakfast and dinner and heavy meal during lunch time, have early dinner between 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
  • Sleeping for less hours. Avoiding sleeping in afternoons helps to increase the burning of calories. This avoids slowing of basal metabolic rate.
  • Eat after previous food is digested
  • Eat with proper frame of mind – create pleasant environment
  • Eating sequence: First eat carbohydrates or sweet taste, next eat salty, sour, pungent and bitter foods. Finally eat astringent food.
  • 10 minutes of Sun Salutations every morning is helpful. Ayurvedic exercise, also known as Surya Namaskar or 'Sun Salutation' is a series of postures that simultaneously integrates the whole physiology including mind, body, and breath. It strengthens and stretches all the major muscle groups, lubricates the joints, conditions the spine, and massages the internal organs. Blood flow and circulation is increased throughout the body.

Conclusion:

Obesity is a common problem in India. It is mainly due to improper lifestyle, wrong food choices and lack of exercise. Above all, people do not have a sense of self awareness. They don’t have mind, body and spiritual connection, and not even breathing right. Ayurvedic approach provides all the necessary tools to bring back health, harmony and peace in life. By adopting simple lifestyle and healthy eating habits anyone can enjoy the life optimally without much stress or expenses. Possible diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and cholesterol can be prevented. So much healthcare rupees will be saved. There will be happy and healthy people in a wealthy country!!