A Review of Obesity and its management in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is originated from the Atharvaveda and was preached by Lord Brahma. Its Prayojana is to maintain the health of healthy and to cure the diseases of diseased. In Ayurveda, Sthaulya has been described in all the literatures. Acharya Charaka has described Sthaulya Purusha mong one of the Ashta Nindita Purusha. Sthaulya is caused due to Medovriddhi which includes abnormal and excessive accumulation of Medodhatu in the body. This is caused by frequent and excessive intake of Madhur and Snigdhaahara, lack of physical and mental exercises. These all results into the increase in Kapha Dosha and Medo Dhatu results in the Sthaulya. In modern science, Sthaulya can be compared to the obesity. Obesity is one of the metabolic disorder. WHO considers obesity as a Global epidemic and a public health problem. It is estimated that more than 300 million adults are obese and many are overweight. Sthaulya (obesity) is discouraged by the society for social as well as on the medical grounds. Three main causes have been described in modern literature viz. Dietetic, Genetic and Hormonal. Person of every age and sex is suffering by this widely spreaded epidemic i.e. obesity. It is the major chronic disease in developing as well as in developed countries. The line of treatment includes the treatment of Dhatvagnimandya. In pathogenesis of Sthaulya, Kledaka Kapha, Samana and Vyana Vayu, Meda (fat /lipid) and Medodhatvagni Mandyata are main responsible factors. So the proper treatment should be selected, that can effect on all these factors