1) Obesity is a major public health problem globally, with increasing rates in both adults and children. It is difficult to assess exact figures. 2) Ayurveda defines obesity as an excessive accumulation of fat or medas dhatu in the body, with a BMI over 25 considered overweight and over 35 considered obese. 3) The causes or etiology of obesity according to Ayurveda include genetic factors, diet high in fats, sugars and refined foods, sedentary lifestyle, and stress. Treatment focuses on lifestyle changes like diet, exercise and stress management as well as purification therapies and herbal remedies to reduce fat accumulation.

1. OBESITY – AN AYURVEDIC
PERSPECTIVE
DR. PRASANNA NARASIMHA RAO M.S. (Ayu), Ph.D.
Principal & Chief Medical Officer,
Sri Dharmasthala Manjunateshwara
College of Ayurveda & Hospital,
HASSAN – 573 201, KARNATAKA, INDIA
Tel: +8712 – 256465 (O), 264277 (R), +919448064277 (M)
E-mail: sdm_ayu_hsn@yahoo.co.in

2. • Obesity - major public health problem
• Difficult to assess - no exact figures
•Adults & children.
• Weight gain Men 29-35 yrs
women 45-49 yrs
• Women > men

3. Thick / Solid / Big /
“Sthu” + “ach” = Bulky/ Large / Huge /
Corpulent / Fat
“Sthoulya”
“Sthoola”

4.  Accumulation of fat > 20%
 BMI > 25 Over Weight.
> 35 Obese
> 45 Over Obese
Definition:
•Pendulous buttocks, belly and breasts
•Increased bulk increase in energy

5. Etiology
1. Sahaja nidana (Beeja doshaja) - Genetic factors
2. Aharatmaka nidana - Refined foods, High
caloric diets, Alcohol
3. Viharatmaka nidana - Life Style Modifications
4. Manasika nidana - Stress

6. Aharaja nidana
 Adhyashana
 Athi matra ahara
 Athi sampurana
Viharatmaka Nidana
•Avyayama
•Avyavaya
•Divaswapna
•Sukha shayya
Manasika Nidana
 Harsha Nitya
 Achintana
 Priyadarshana

7. Sl.
No
Nidana/Etiology Mahabhuta Predominance Rasa/Guna/
Veerya/Vipaka
Vitiation
1 Guru ahara Pruthvi +Ap Madhura Rasa Kapha-Meda
2 Snigdha ahara Pruthvi +Ap Madhura Rasa Kleda
3 Picchila ahara Pruthvi +Ap Madhura Rasa Kapha-Meda
4 Sheeta ahara Ap Madhura Rasa Vata-udaka
5 Madhura Rasa Pruthvi +Ap Snigdha, guru Kapha-Meda
6 Go ksheera Ap Madhura KaphaMeda
7 Mahisha ksheera Ap + Pruthvi Athi sneha Kapha-Meda
8 Dadhi Ap + Pruthvi Kapha-Meda
9 Ghritha Agni + Ap Snigdha Kapha-Meda
10 Ikshu Ap+ Madhura Kapha
11 Phanitha Pruthvi + Ap Guru TriDosha
12 Guda Pruthvi Madhura, kashaya Kapha-Meda
13 Anupa Mamsa Ap + Pruthvi Madhura Rasa Kapha
14 Athi Nidra - Tamo guna Kapha
15 Sukha shayya - Tamo guna Kapha
16 Divaswapna - Tamo guna Kapha
17 Avyayama - Tamo guna Kapha
18 Athi vyayama - Rajo guna Vata
19 Jagarana - Rajo guna Vata
20 Anashana - - Vata
Table showing important Etiology of Obesity with their features

8. Pathology
Nidana
Ama Vikrutha Medas
Uttarottara Dhatu
Vata Vriddhi
Jararaghni
Food intake
Medas
Sthoulya

9. Clinical Features
•Meda- Mamsa Vrudhi
•Chalatwa of Spik Sthana and Udara
•Ayatopachayotsaha, Ayu hrasa
•Krucchra vyavaya
•Javoparodha- hampering the movements
•Athi Sweda and Dourgandhya
•Athi kshut and Pipasa
•Dourbalya, Kshudra swasa, Atinidra, Kradana
and Gadgada bhashana.

10. Complications
Prameha Pidaka Jwara
Bhagandara Vidradi Vata Roga
Udara Urusthamba Kusta
Visarpa Athisara Arshas
Slipada Apachi Kamala
Krimi Thrushna Moha
Vrana Kasa Mutra krucchra

11. Type 2 diabetes mellitus Hypertension
Stroke Hyperlipidemia
Coronary heart diseases Gall stones
Arthritis of hip, knee and foot Depression
Varicose veins Breathlessness
Sleep apnea Infertility
Hirsutism Abdominal hernia
Cancers of breast, endometrium, ovaries.

12. Treatment.
1. Nidana parivarjana
2. Apatarpana Chikitsa
3. Satata karshana Chikitsa
4. Guru cha Atarpana
5. Langhana Chikitsa
6. Pathyapathya

13. Purificatory
• Vamana, Virechana, Rakta mokshana, Lekhana
basti and Shirovirechana
Non-pharmacological
•Vyayama, Upavasa, Udvartana, Trit, Marutha
sevana and Swedana.
Udvartana Churna
Triphala (3 Myrobalans) - 2 pt
Mudga (Phaseolus trilobus) - 1 pt
Kulatta (Dolichos biflorus) - 4 pt
Sarshapa (Brassica campetris) - ¼ pt
Methika (Trigonella foenum) - 1 pt
Yava (Hordeum vulgare) - 2 pt

14. Palliative Drugs
 honey with Haritaki choorna (Terminalia
chebula)
Triphaladi quatha (decoction of three
myrobalans)
Musthadi quatha (decoction of Cyprus
rotandus)
Kustadi choorna (combination of Sassurea
lappa and others)

15. Guru and Atarpana Dravyas
 Priyangu (Callicarpa macrophylla)
 Yava (Hordeum vulgare)
 Mudga (Phaseolus sativus)
 Kulatha (Dolichos biflorus)
 Patola (Trichosanthes dioica)
 Madhudaka

16. Lekhana Basti
Ing: Musta (Cyprus rotandus), Kushta (Sasuria
lappa), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daru Haridra
(Berberis aristata), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Ativisha
(Aconitum hetrophyllum), Katuka rohini (Picrorhyza
curroa), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanicum), Chira
bilwa (Pongamia glabra)
Alkali of Apamarga (Achranthus aspera)
Gomutra

17. LEKHANA BASTI YOGA
Anuvasana:
Moorchita Tila Taila
Or
Brihat Saindhavadi Taila – 50 – 80 ml
Niruha:
Triphala Kwatha - 300ml
Gomutra - 100ml
Tila Taila - 50ml
Madhu - 30ml
Saindhava Lavana - 2gm
Yava Kshara - 2gm

18. •Wholesome diet: Yava (Hordeum vulgare), Mudga
(Phaseolus trilobus), Kulatha (Dolichos biflorus), Patola
(Trichosanthes dioica), Takra, Madhu, Ushnodhaka,
Sarshapa Taila (Mustard oil), Arista, Asava, Jeerna
Madya, Rohita matsya.
• Wholesome regimen: Srama, Jagarana, Vyayama,
Chintana, Shoka, Krodha and Nitya bramana.

19. References
Charaka samhita Sutra Sthana 21st chapter
Sushrutha samhita Sutrasthana 15th & 35th chapter
Astanga Hrudaya 14th chapter
Madhava Nidana 34th chapter
Bhava Prakshasha 39th chapter
Sharangadhara Samhita