The effect of a herbal formulation on general well-being in overweight and obese individuals

M.Tech.Obesity is a serious health problem throughout the world, with the number of cases having increased three-fold over the last two decades, reaching epidemic levels in the United States (Kumar and Clark, 2009). According to the South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) of 2002, 29.2% of South African men were overweight, whereas 56.6% of women were overweight. Obesity leads to a decreased quality of life and can have a detrimental effect on general well being (SADHS, 2002). Overweight and obesity have major psychological effects on the individual. Obese individuals often suffer from body image issues, unhappiness, a decreased morale, low self esteem and eating disorders (Rogge et al., 2004). The stigma associated with adolescent obesity causes bullying in school as well as childhood psychiatric morbidity (Gortmaker et al., 1993). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an herbal formulation consisting of Coleus Forskohlii, Camellia sinensis, Coffea canephora, Caffeine, Evodiamine, Ilex paraguariensis and Phaseolus vulgaris on general well being in overweight and obese individuals. This study was a quantitative double-blind, placebo-controlled study, using matched pairs according to gender and body mass index (BMI). The study was conducted over twelve weeks during the period of October 2011 to January 2012 at the University of Johannesburg’s Homeopathy Clinic. The conducted study formed part of a larger study where the research sample was shared by two additional researchers (Durrheim et al., 2012) (Withers et al., 2012). This allowed for a larger sample group to be tested with numerous variables being researched. The study included sixty overweight and obese males and females between the ages of eighteen and forty five, with a BMI above 25 kg/m² and under 35kg/m². Participants were required to sign a Participant Information and Consent form (Appendix B) giving the necessary information regarding this study. The groups were randomly matched assigned by the dispenser (according to the participant’s BMI) to the experimental group or placebo group, each consisting of thirty participants. The medication was randomised by the homeopathic dispenser at the University of Johannesburg’s Homeopathy Clinic. The experimental group received a bottle of capsules containing the herbal formulation, and the placebo received identical looking placebo capsules containing a pharmaceutical maize starch