Yashwant Mehra

1. Obesity
Ayurveda Insight
Presenter
Vaidya. Archana Kulkarni
BAMS,MD Ayurveda, CMT
Founder and director of
Ayur Wellness Center,
Easton PA
www.ayurwellness.com
484-274-1276

2. What is obesity?
“Obesity” specifically refers to
an excessive amount of body fat.
“Overweight” refers to an excessive
amount of body weight that
includes muscle, bone, fat, and
water

3. How is obesity measured?
Body Mass index
It is calculated by dividing persons weight
in kilogram by his height in meter squares
BMI 19-25 Normal range
BMI 26-30 Over Weight
BMI 30 and higher Obese
BMI 40 and higher Extremely Obese

4. Obesity measurement
and Health risk
Waist to Hip ratio
Male Female Health Risk
0.90 or below 0.80 or below Low Risk
0.96 to 1.0 0.81 to 0.85 Moderate Risk
1.0+ 0.85+ High Risk
Waist Circumference
Men > 40 inches women > 35 inches

5. Prevalence
WHO report –Globally with more than 1
billion adults overweight - at least 300
million of them clinically obese.
CDC report -more than 72 million people
that are more than one third of US adults
and 16% of US children are obese.

6. Causes of Obesity
Obesity occurs when a person consumes more
calories from food than he or she burns
Genetic Factors-
Environmental factors-life style behavior –Diet,
physical activity
Social Factors- poverty and a lower level of education
Cultural Factors –Type of food ,way of cooking is
different
Diseases like Hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome,
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Drugs like steroids, antidepressant

7. Health Risks
Type 2 diabetes,
Heart disease, Stroke
High blood pressure, High blood
cholesterol
CA colon, rectum prostate
CA gallbladder, uterus, cervix, or
ovaries
Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
Fatty liver disease
Osteoarthritis, Gout
Pulmonary (breathing) problems
sleep apnea,.
Reproductive problems in women,
including menstrual irregularities ,
infertility.

8. Obesity -Medoroga
In Ayurveda Obesity is regarded as
Medoroga –A disorder of Meda Dhatu-
Adipose tissue and fat metabolism
One of the undesirable Constitution
‘Sthoulya’- ‘Santarpan janya vikar’-A over
nutritional disorder

9. Characteristic of obese person
Ati Sthula has been defined as a person,
"who on account of the inordinate increase
of fat and flesh, is disfigured with
pendulous, buttocks, belly and breasts
and whose increase bulk is not matched
by a corresponding increase in energy

10. 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 –like dairy products- cheese
cream butter, ice cream yogurt
Excess use of oily food-fried food grilled food, fast
foods
Excessive use of meat
Usage of new grains
Usage of sugarcane's, jaggery's preparations
Excessive use of Rice, wheat, Black gram,
Drinking water after food in take

11. Causes of obesity in Ayurveda
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 Svabhavat’
Irrespective of diet the person is obese
due to genetic makeup.

12. Medoroga pathogenesis
Causative factors (Kapha & Meda )
Deranged Fat
Ama Rasa Excess Meda & Kapha
Metabolism
Blocks Circulatory Channels
Tissue Toxic Buildup Vata Restriction
Malnutrition
Hyper functioning Agni
Hunger Thirst

13. Medoroga (Obesity) Consequences
Plasma
Ama Blockage CVD, HT, Stroke
Blood
Tissue Malnutrition Vata Muscle Chronic Musculoskeletal
Restriction
Fat Diabetes, Hyper Lipidemia,
Lack of energy
Lack of Enthusiasm Vata Bone Osteoarthritis, Gout
Disorders
Low immunity Marrow
Shortness of life
Sexual Difficulty,
span Reproductive
Infertility
Mind Depression

14. Obesity-Medoroga treatment
Shodhan chikitsa- This includes Panchakarma treatment
Vaman (medicated vomitting)
Virechana (medicated purgation)
Basti (enema therapy)-particularly Lekhan Basti.Herbs
used in basti- Ushakadi
Raktamokshana-Blood letting therapy-
Dhumpan-medicated smoking
Swedan-Herbal steam therapy
Udvartana-herbal powder massage
Herbs for Udvartana-Triphala,musta,Neem, Haridra,Daru
haridra,Tulasi,Ashwagandha,Musterd,Lodhra,Vacha

15. Ayurvedic management of obesity
Shaman chikitsa -It is pacification therapy
with herbs, diet, exercises and lifestyle .
Use of Bitter, pungent astringent taste
Dry, hot, sharp, scraping qualities

16. Herbs for Medoroga (obesity)
Triphala
It is combination of 3 healings herb, their fruits are used.
Amalaki (emblica officinalis),-
Haritaki (terminalia chebula)
Bibhitaki (terminalia belerica)
Effects of Triphala - all dosha balancing, very good cleanser
,purifies blood rejuvenating herb. it decreases excessive Meda
reduces serum cholesterol, reduces the plaque formation in the
arteries ,high blood pressure, provides remarkable protection in
CVD, In a study conducted by the American Botanical Council, it
was shown that Triphala greatly reduced blood glucose levels in
diabetic rats

17. Herbs for Medoroga (obesity)
Guggulu- (Commiphora mukul)
Light, dry, sharp, subtle, mobile, non slimy
T-bitter, pungent, A-Hot, PE- Pungent
All dosha balancing –by Prabhav
Useful part = Resin Old guggulu- scraping quality
It is strong detoxifying and cleansing and
rejuvenating herb.
Lower cholesterol and triglycerides and maintain or
improve HDL/LDL ratio, anti-inflammatory effects.

18. Herbs for Medoroga (obesity)
Vidanga –Embelia ribes
Light dry sharp T- pungent ,astringent
A- hot PE-pungent
Vata kapha pacifying, agni stimulating,
Vidanga allays vata, it is diuretic, a mild
purgative and kills worms, it is an appetizer,
digestive , blood purifier and rejuvenator.

19. Herbs in Medoroga (obesity)
Shilajatu-Mineral pitch
It is the resins that oozes out from
Himalayan Mountains
Light dry T-bitter pungent astringent
A- hot scraping quality
Mainly Vata and Kapha balancing
it decreases excessive fat, very helpful in
enhancing sexual powers. It is anti
inflammatory and antioxidant

20. Useful Combinations in Medoroga
(obesity)
Navak Guggulu
Triphala Guggulu
Amrutadya Guggulu
Chandraprabhavati
Mustadi Kwath
Vidangadi Churna
Anupan- luke warm water and honey

21. Ayurveda Diet in Medoroga
(obesity)
Bitter, pungent astringent taste
Dry, hot, sharp, scraping qualities
Whole grains- Barley, whole oats, quinoa and amaranth.
Vegetables-Chard, kale, Spinach and mustard greens,
eggplant Cabbage, carrot cauliflower.
Pulses or dried beans –Lentils, Mung dal, tu dar, masoor dal,
horse gram chick peas
Fruits-apples. Pears pineapple,
Honey
Spices-Fenugreek, turmeric, cumin, musturd, asefoetida
curry leaves, ginger, black pepper, clove, cinnamon

22. Diet to Avoid
Avoid sweet, sour, salty and oily food as it aggravates
Kapha and Meda
Sweet foods include not only sugar but also rice, wheat,
pasta, breads, and sweet milk products.
Cakes, cookies, Pastries, Chocolates.
Dairy products especially cheese cream, ice cream,
yogurt.
Meat especially red meat ,fried food ,grilled food
Avoid packaged foods, processed food and restaurant
fried foods - pizza, hot dog ,burger, doughnuts, French
fries
Avoid left over's

23. Diet to avoid
Avoid incompatible combinations of food
Milk with fish, meat, curd, sour fruits,
bread containing yeast, cherries, yogurt
Yogurt with milk, sour fruits, melons, hot
drinks, meat, fish, mangos, cheese
Eggs with milk, meat, yogurt, melons,
cheese, fish, bananas
Fruit with any other food

24. Diet to avoid
Avoid Tamasic food
Tamasic foods are those dull the mind and bring
about inertia laziness disorientation depression.
Excess intake of fats oils sugars, heavy and left
over food are Tamasic in nature.
Foods that have been processed, canned or
frozen food , Beef, fish, eggs, cold buffalo milk
are also Tamasic.

25. Ayurveda Life style in Medoroga
(Obesity)
Exercise ‘Stop Dieting and Start Moving’
Walking, Swimming, running, or rowing aerobic
exercises, Stationary Cycling/Bicycling
Yoga Asana-
Suryanamaskar-(Sun Salutations)
Pawan muktasana ( (Wind Liberating Pose)
Utthanpadasana (Raised Leg Pose)
Dvichakrikasan- (Bicycling)
Padvruttasan- (Leg rotation)
Naukasana (Boat Pose)
Pranayama (breathng excersises) and Meditation

26. Useful tips
Maintain a regular daily routine. Wake up before 6.00am
Take 2 teaspoon of honey and 2 tea spoon of lemon juice with
1 glass of warm water
Exercise at morning at least 40 min/day -4days/week
East light nourishing breakfast –cooked apple, toast cooked
barley or oatmeal
Cook daily with love and care
Use spices and herbs that suitable for you while cooking
Boil water with fresh ginger and drink frequently throughout
the day
Make Lunch as a main meal. Dinner should be as light as
possible.
For dinner, eat light one-dish meals, or vegetable or lentil
soups.
Do not sleep during day

27. Useful tips Cont
Avoid eating late at night
Eat only after digestion of previous meal.
Eat only when you are hungry. Find out correct quantity
for you.
Keep the regular timings of meal. Eat mindfully.
Concentrate on your food, what you are eating. Don’t
divide your attention by reading, working or watching TV
while you are eating.
Take a walk after meal.
Replace caffeinated and carbonated beverages with
herb-spice teas.
Fasting-One day fasting in a week is good