WHAT IS OBESITY?

Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissues of the body, is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality. Obesity is both an individual clinical condition and is increasingly viewed as a serious public health problem. Obesity contributes too much morbidities in the population and it is known as causative or precipitating factor for various killer ailments like diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery diseases, joint disorders, Gall Bladder disease, Breast, Prostrate and Colon Cancers, Respiratory problems, Stroke, Heart diseases, etc.

OBESITY IN AYURVEDA

Obesity has been described by the term Sthaulya Roga in various Ayurvedic classics. According to Ayurveda, Obesity is the excess amount of body fat. In this way excess weight of muscles, bone, fat and water in the body can be labeled as Obesity,  also known as overweight.

Ayurveda included Atisthula (obese or overweight) person in Ashta Nindatiya Purushas (eight despised or undesirable physiques). These eight despised persons are Atideergha (very tall), Atihriswa (very short stature), Atigaura (very fair colored or complexion), Atikrishna (very black colored or complexion), Atiloma (with excessive body hairs), Aloma (absence of body hairs), Atikrisha (excessive thin or emaciated persons) and Atisthula (obese or overweight). Ayurveda further stated that Atisthula and Atikrisha persons are more despised among above eight despised persons.

Charaka, the great ancient scholar of Ayurveda, stated that people who are Atisthula (overweight) are more liable to be at a health risk than those whose weight is at the normal range for their body types. They are more prone to chronic diseases like heart disorders, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure stroke, and a few types of cancers.  It represents certain people who display low metabolism and water retention, thus finding it difficult to burn sufficient energy to maintain a healthy weight range.

CATEGORIES OF PERSON ON THE BASIS OF BMI

Obesity and overweight ranges are determined by using height and weight to calculate a number known as the Body Mass Index (BMI). Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. It is used for people to correlate the amount of body fat they possess. For example, an adult with a (BMI) of between 25-29.9 is considered overweight. A person having a (BMI) 30 or higher would be considered obese.

When a person consumes more calories than he burns up, then the excess calories get stored in the form of fat or adipose tissues, causing obesity. The causes of Sthaulya Roga (obesity) are very clearly explained in Ayurveda. These are as follows-

• Avyayama - Not exerting physically or lack of exercises
• Divaaswapna - Sleeping in daytime (the afternoon).
• Shleshmal Ahara Sevana - The diet, which causes an increase in the Kapha Dosha.
• Shleshma Vardhaka Vihara Sevana - Life styles, which cause an increase in the Kapha Dosha.
• Atisampurana – Excessive intake of foods, which are difficult for digestion, such as consuming sweet, cold and unctuous food contents in excessive quantity, etc.
• Avyavaaya – Not indulging in copulation
• Harshanitya- Enjoying happiness always.
• Achintana – Not thinking of anything or worry less.
• Bijaswabhava – Nature of the seeds i.e. spermatozoa and ovum at the time of fertilization or due to heredity.

Dhatus are formed continuously in our body in a consecutive manner, and are in a constant state of regeneration from the previous one ― they are being constantly formed, destroyed and reformed. These Dhatus, in their cycle of creation, destruction and recreation are fed with appropriate materials derived from nutrient substances from the time of one’s conception until one’s death. This means that if one Dhatu is not healthy, the Dhatu that will come after that particular Dhatu will also  not be healthy. 

According to Ayurvedic principles, after the intake of any type of Ahara (diet) it is processed at various places of digestive system and is transformed in to first Dhatu i.e. Rasa Dhatu. After bio-physiological reactions during digestion, a few part of Rasa Dhatu is transformed in to next one i.e. Rakta Dhatu. Same process continues in the formation of respective Dhatus until the last Dhatu i.e. Sukra Dhatu is obtained.  Thus all these Dhatus get their nutrition through their precursor Dhatu or directly from Poshaka (nourishing) Rasa. Each Dhatu consists of countless infinite small cells, which are units of structure and function.