Obesity and Weight Loss Treatment Concept

Weight loss has become a trend in the modern era and can be achieved in many ways. Weight loss treatment for the long term and the consistent effect is most important, at the same time it is a bit challenging too. Failure in weight-loss treatment and its effects for the long term is mainly due to poor adherence to proper lifestyle and emotional support.

Obesity, a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue. It is a common but preventable disease associated with a greater risk factor for the development of many diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases like Hypertension, Stroke, Cholesterol etc., Gall bladder diseases, Arthritis, even infertility and so on.

Obesity in Ayurveda:

Obesity has been described as Sthaulya or Medhoroga in Ayurvedic texts. It comes under ‘Santharpanotha vikara’, which means – a disease caused by over nourishment.

Definition:

Excessive accumulation of Medho dhatu (fat/adipose tissue) and Mamsa dhatu (muscular tissue), particularly under the chin, on the buttocks, thighs, abdomen and chest.

Causes of obesity:

Dietetic causes:

Overeating or binge eating
Eating just because it’s time to have food
Heavy and late dinner
Over consumption of ultra-processed and processed foods
More restaurant foods
Oily, fatty and deep-fried foods
Fast foods, excess intake of carbohydrates, sweets, dairy products, meat, even carbonated soft drinks
Drinking more water immediately after meals

Regimental/lifestyle-related causes:

Day sleeping, wake up late/sleep more after sunrise
Sleeping immediately after food
Excessive hours of sleeping (particularly in the morning)
Sedentary lifestyle and job
Lack of exercise and other activities including walking

Psychological causes:

Emotional eating – use food as a coping mechanism when sad, depressed, anxious, lonely and frustrated.
Lacking in willpower, motivation especially to lose weight

Other causes:

Hereditary/Genetic cause
Indigestion and other digestive function related
Medicinal reasons – medicines for psychiatric illness, diabetes, Hypertension, Steroids, Hormonal imbalances etc.
Complication of other diseases like Thyroid issues, PCOD, etc.

Pathogenesis of Obesity:

Obesity can occur mainly due to 3 reasons (as per modern science) –

Excessive lipid deposition: Increased intake of food in the form of carbs, fats etc. converts to fats and gets stored in fat depots.
Diminished lipid metabolism: Due to decrease in lipolytic hormones, thyroxine and adrenaline diminishes the mobilization of unsaturated fatty acids from adipose tissue and cause obesity.
Diminished lipid utilization: Due to aging, defective lipid oxidation and inactivity diminishes lipid utilization and leads to obesity.

As per Ayurveda, poor lifestyle habits and diet choices (as mentioned in the causative factors) that weaken the Agni (digestive fire) and leads to the accumulation of Ama and blocks the body channels. This aggravates kapha and leads to the imbalance in formation of Medho dhatu (Fat & Adipose tissue).

Complications of Obesity:

Obesity can lead to deformity of several organs and organ systems

Indigestion
Hemorrhoids / Piles
Diabetes, Cholesterol, Stroke, Hypertension and other heart diseases
Sleep disorders, Sleep apnea, Snoring
Arthritis – osteoarthritis, gout etc.
Infertility
Even can lead to cancer!

Weight loss treatment:

The first line of treatment is to avoid the causative factors. (see the list above).

As per Ayurveda, Langhana Karma (Depletion Therapy) is the main weight loss treatment modality. Any therapies/diet/lifestyle/herbs that bring lightness to the body is called Langhana. Fasting is the best choice. But need to select according to the strength of the patient and disease.

Langhana is further divided into 2 – Shodhana Karma & Shamana Karma.

Shodhana Karma (Purification therapies):

To eliminate the accumulated toxins (ama) from the deep tissues need a deeper cleansing. Ayurveda chooses the Panchakarma therapies (purification therapies) for this. Which includes Vamana (Emesis therapy), Virecana (Purgation therapy), Vasti (Enema therapy) etc. Click here to read more about panchakarma

Shamana Karma (Palliative therapy):

Diet Modification:

Introduce:

Fasting (Upavasa).
Foods which take long hours to digest, but not nourishing foods. Example – salads.
Low calorie and low-fat food but with proper vitamins and minerals.
Foods which are rich in protein to utilize and maintain the amino acids.
High fiber-rich foods
Stay longer without foods or do intermittent fasting.
Cabbage juice: 1 cup of chopped cabbage + 1 cup of water + a small piece of ginger + half tbsp. of lemon juice – blend all together and drink before breakfast.
Coriander drink: 2 tbsp. of coriander seeds + 1000 ml water – boil and reduce the solution for 2-3 minutes. Filter and drink trough out the day.
Lemon ginger honey drink: 1 glass of warm water + 1 tbsp. of lemon juice + ½ tsp grated ginger + ½ tbsp. of honey – drink in the morning on empty stomach.
Apple cider vinegar: Drink shots of apple cider vinegar after meals to improve digestion and metabolism.
Metabolizer drink: 1 glass of water + 1 tbsp. lemon juice or apple cider vinegar + 1 tsp of grated fresh ginger + 1 tbsp. of honey + 1 pinch of cayenne pepper or black pepper. Drink often throughout the day.
Herbs which helps to control the Ama (toxins) and improves fat metabolism like Amalaki, Ginger, Long pepper, Black pepper, Coriander, Garcinia etc.

Lifestyle modification: