1) Ayurveda views obesity as an excess of meda dhatu caused by improper diet, lack of exercise, and genetic factors. 2) The management of obesity in Ayurveda focuses on reducing kapha and medas through a pathya aahar (diet), vihara (lifestyle), and use of lekhaniya (scraping) herbs. 3) Key aspects of treatment include following a low-fat, low-sweet diet; regular exercise; use of herbs with scraping and fat-reducing qualities like those in the lekhaniya dashamani group; and addressing underlying imbalances through a comprehensive lifestyle and herbal regimen.

1. Role of Ayurveda in Obesity
Dr. Apoorva Milind Sangoram
MD, PhD (Dravyaguna vidnyan)
Professor, HOD (Dravyaguna Department)
Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pune
Maharashtra.
Contact no.- 9822090305
Email id – apoorvasangoram@gmail.com

2. AIM –
To elaborate role of Ayurveda in the management of
Obesity.
OBJECTIVES –
1. Review of Obesity in Perspective of Etiopathogenesis
according to Ayurveda and Modern science.
2. Elaboration of management of Obesity according to
pathyakar and apathyakar aahar and vihar.
3. Elaboration of mechanism of action of Dravyas useful in
Ayurvedic Management of Obesity.

3. INTRODUCTION
 Acharya Charak has mentioned ‘ Atisthool’ as one of the ‘Astonindita
purusha’ in 23rd chapter of sootrasthan in Astonindita adhaya of
‘Charak samhita’ Acharya charak has described sthoola as
maodaomaaMsaait vaRQd %vaaccalaaisfgaudstna: È
Ayaqaaopcaao%saahao narao|it sqaUla ]cyato ÈÈ ca.saU.23.9
 The one in whom , due to excessive increase of Mansa and Meda
dhatu, the buttocks , abdomen and breast become pendulous and
strength is rendered disproportionate with the physical growth, such
person is called as ‘sthoola’
 Sthoola are deficient in longevity , have impaired body movements ,
they perform less sexual activity, have less semen quantity. They are
weak. Emit foul smell. They have excessive sweating , hunger and
thirst.

4. Example of Sthoola vyakti

5. CAUSES OF OBESITY IN AYURVEDA
 Dietary causes -
 Over eating
 Frequent food intake before digestion
of a previous meal.
 Kapha increasing food
 Excessive consumption of sweet food,
heavy food, cold diet, unctuous food-
dairy products like cheese cream,
butter, ice cream, yogurt
 Excessive use of oily food – fried food,
grilled food, fast food
 Excessive use of meat
 Usage of new grains
 Usage of sugarcanes jaggery preparations
 Excessive use of rice, wheat, black gram
 Drinking water after food intake
 Life style and Behavior
Sedentary life style, Lack of physical exercise,
excessive sleep, sleeping during day especially
soon after meal, lack of sexual life
 Mental cause
Lack of thinking, anxiety or anger, cheerful mind
 Genetic - ‘Beeja Swabhavat’

6. CAUSES OF OBESITY ACCORDING TO MODERN SCIENCE
 Environmental factors –Life style, behavior, Diet, physical activity.
 Cultural Factors – Type of food, way of cooking is different.
 Socio -economic factors - poverty and a lower level of education.
 Genetic factors play a key role, but their mechanism remains unknown.
 Mental and Emotional influences on Eating patterns
 Diseases like Hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, polycystic ovarian
syndrome.
 Drugs like steroids, anti-depressants.

7. Etiopathogenesis of Obesity according to Ayurveda
 Consumption of excessive and constant intake of heavy, sweet, cooling and
unctuous food before previous meal is digested creates undigested ahar rasa
(Ama).
 This undigested ahar rasa produces Agnimandya in medodhatvagni in
medovaha strotsasa.
 Medodhatu does not get digested and there is vitiated aggravation of
medodhatu.
 Due to obstruction of Vikrit meda, vayu changes its normal direction & enters
into kostha and stimulates Jathragni.
 This stimulation of digestive power gets the patient to digest and absorbs
food quickly.
 Hence patient consumes more food which leads to excessive enlargement of
meda dhatu.
 Other successive dhatus like Asthi, Majja, Shukra do not get nourished
properly.
 This improper nourishment of dhatus lead to low vitality and ultimately the
patient dies due to severe diseases.

8. Flowchart of samprapti of Obesity
Undigested ahar rasa (Ama)
Agnimandya
Medovriddhi
Ill nourishment of further dhatus
Low immunity, various life style disorders
Uncontrolled obesity leading to Death

9. FUNDAMENTALS OF MANAGEMENT
OF OBESITY IN AYURVEDA
AAHAR
PATHYA-
APATHYA
VIHAR
VYAYAM
AUSHADHA
LEKHANIYA
DRAVYA

10. AYURVEDA AAHAR IN OBESITY
TO BE CONSUMED – Food with qualities such as bitter, pungent, astringent
taste, dry, hot, sharp, having scraping property shall be used.
 Whole grains – Barley, whole oats.
 Vegetables – Long gourd, Spinach and mustard greens, egg plant, cabbage,
carrot, cauliflower
 Pulses or dried beans – Lentils, Moong dal, tuvar dal, masoor dal, horse gram,
chick peas.
 Fruits – Apples, Pears, Pineapple.
 Old Honey
 Spices – Fenugreek, turmeric, cumin, mustard, asafetida, curry leaves, ginger,
black pepper, clove , cinnamon.

11. DIET TO AVOID
 Avoid sweet, sour, salty and oily food as it aggravates Kapha and Medas.
 Sweet foods including not just sugar but also rice, wheat, pasta, breads and
milk products.
 Cakes, cookies, pastries, chocolates.
 Meat especially red meat, fried and grilled food.
 Avoid left over / stale food.
 Avoid packaged foods, pizza, burger, French fries, doughnuts etc.

12. AVOID INCOMPATIBLE COMBINATIONS OF FOOD ( VIRUDDHAHAR )
Milk with the following items –
Fish, meat, curd, sour fruits, bread containing yeast, yoghurt, eggs, sour
fruits, melons, hot drinks etc.
AVOID TAMASIK FOOD
Tamasik foods are those which dull the mind and bring about inertia,
laziness, disorientation and depression.
Excessive intake of fats, oils, sugars, heavy and left over food are tamasik in
nature.
Foods that have been processed, canned or frozen food, beef, fish, eggs,
cold buffalo milk are also tamasik in nature.

13. AYURVEDA LIFE STYLE IN (OBESITY)
T0 BE DONE –
 Exercise.
लाघवं कर्मसार्र्थ्मर् दिप्तो अग्नी: र्ेिस: क्ष्: ।
ववभक्तघनगात्रत्वं व््ा्ार्िुपजा्ते ॥ ( चरक सूत्रस्थान )
Exercise leads to increase in stamina, appetite. It is
beneficial in reducing excessive accumulation of Medas
dhatu which is particularly useful in obesity.
 Walking, Jogging, Swimming, running, or rowing.
 Aerobic exercises.
 Stationary Cycling/Bicycling.
 Trekking, mountain climbing.
“Stop Incorrect Dieting and Start Moving”

14. ROLE OF YOGA IN OBESITY
Helpful yogasanas are:
 SURYANAMASKAR
 Pawan muktasan
 Utthanpadmasan
 Dwichakrikasan
 Padvruttasan
 Naukasana
 PRANAYAMA

15. Aushadha
Ayurvedic perspective in management of Obesity
 ‘Lekhan’ is a process which is useful in management of Obesity. According to
Acharya Charak ‘Lekhan’ means,
‘laoKnaM p%tlaIkrNa È ca.saU.4.ca.d
laoKnaM kfmaodsaao: È ca.saU.4
 Lekhan means scraping of dhatus and malas after initial absorption of kleda
from them.
 Especially kapha and meda dhatu are removed by lekhan process.
 Sharangdhar samhita has also given a detailed definition of Lekhan karma.
QaatUnmalaanvaa dohsya ivaSaaoYyaaollaoKyaocca yat È
laoKnaM tVaqaa xaaOd`M naIr]YNaM vacaa yavaa: È Saa.saM.pUva- KMD A.4
It means Lekhana is a process through which abnormally accumulated dhatus
are removed.

16.  ‘Lekhaniya dashemani’ is one of the groups of ten dravyas which
is useful in management of obesity.
 In the 4th chapter of charak samhita in sootrasthan, Acharya
charak has mentioned ‘Lekhaniya dashemani’ gana.
maustakuYzhird`ada$hird`avacaaitivaYaakTuraoihNaI ica~kicaribalva hOmava%ya
[it dSaomaaina laoKnaIyaaina Bavaint È ca.saU.4.3
 Musta, Kustha, Haridra, Daruharidra, Vacha, Ativisha, Katurohini,
Chitrak, Chirabilva and Hemvati vacha are the ten dravyas of
Lekhaniya dashemani gana.

17.  All the dravyas of lekhaniya dashemani generally have Tikta, katu
rasa, Ushna Veerya, Katu Vipaka and Laghu, ruksha guna.
 Hence they have specific action on dusta meda and kapha.
 All the dravyas scrap accumulated meda by their laghu and ruksha
gunas.
 Their Ushna Veerya removes obstruction of meda.
 It eliminates kleda from meda dhatu due to its katu , tikta rasa,
which leads to proper nourishment of successive dhatus and
improve immunity & the patient gets healthy life.

18. Action of Lekhaniya dashemani dravyas
Amapachan ( Due to Tikta, Katu rasa)
Agnivardhan ( As they have Ushna Veerya)
Scraping of dushta meda ( Due to laghu, ruksha gunas)
Removes obstruction in strotasas (by Ushna Veerya) leading to
proper nourishment of dhatus
Improves immunity and imparts
Healthy life

19. CONCLUSION -
 कार्श्मर्ेव वरं स्थौल््ात् न दि स्थूलस्् भेषजर्् ।
 Obesity is described as ‘Kruchrasadhya’ vyadhi in Ayurveda. It implies
that it is difficult to treat.
 However, with appropriate overall management of diet, exercise and
medication, obesity can be reduced to a considerable level.
 To summarize the topic, it can be said that the “Cumulative
effect of Aahar-Vihar-Aushadha executed effectively
shall lead to successful management of obesity”.