All World
Gayatri Pariwar

  Among the host of health hazards faced by the modern society, obesity has become a matter of deep concern. Excessive fat or overweight body not only reduces one’s physical beauty and gives a funny appearance, but at times it also hampers one’s alacrity and work efficiency. Overweight people feel tired and start panting after a little hard work.  More severe are the negative effects of extra fat upon the tiny arteries and blood vessels. Obesity increases the chances of high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, cardiac problems – with high risk of sudden heart-attack or even failure of heart because of arterial block, restlessness, insomnia, hormonal disorders, osteoporosis and related problems of weakening of the bones and the joints, physical disability, etc. 

Thus, not only the appearance-conscious or smart people, but also those who care for health and fitness are always keen to maintain their body-weight within healthy limits and try to turn to expensive gymnasiums, diet courses, aerobic exercises and what not. In spite of growing trends of fashionable looks and slim bodies and also of health-awareness, the number of over-weight people and fat-driven diseases is increasing, especially in the urban societies and developed countries. Earlier the over-weight people used to be usually the adults after a certain age. Fatty heftiness was seen rarely among the youths and children and it was mostly because of hereditary factors or utterly lavish eating since childhood. However, these days the incidence of this abnormality seems to have risen in people of all age groups. According to a clinical survey report of 1997, over 30 crore people below 65 years of age are suffering from high obesity throughout the world.   

These days many kids are also found suffering from this abnormality. This is because of excessive use of soda-bicarbonate-made cold drinks, and eatables like chocolates, pastries, and cheese. It is also found to be a congenital abnormality because of the chemically synthesized vitamins and medicines consumed by the mother during pregnancy. Youths, who have a stressful routine, are also found having fat on their tummies and the cases of coronary arterial blocks are rising alarmingly among the urban youths in the young age-group 30-45. Comfort based lifestyle, wrong eating and drinking habits, less nourishing but high calorie artificial foods, side effects of medicines, hormonal disturbances, etc are also responsible for this hidden hazard. 

Although yoga is becoming popular among other methods of keeping fit, people often regard it only as a package of physical exercises that could be practiced at any time in any order.  This is a pity. In fact yoga pertains to much deeper folds of life and if its philosophy is also understood and adopted in righteous manner with necessary disciplines, it would ensure physical and mental well-being as well as psychological, intellectual and spiritual evolution.  Considering the present context, we may focus only on the yoga-aspects pertaining to physical health. In this regard, as also for overall health of the mind-body system, an ideal routine and food habits suggested under Ayurveda are derived from the philosophy of yoga.  Before we look into the preventive and remedial modes suggested under Ayurveda to avoid or get rid of obesity, we shall see the characteristics and hazards of obesity defined in the Ayurvedic scriptures.

The Ayurveda Shastras refer to Obesity as sthaulya roga or sthulata. In the section “Sutra Sthanama” 21|9 of Charak Samhita describes it as —  “The disease in which meda – fat, fatty serum (and marrow) and flesh, etc – increases and accumulates in excess on the tummy, buttocks (hips), waist, chest/breasts, arms and muscles of other parts. This growth is so much that the flesh in some or these ‘inflated’ components makes them heavy and it even hangs freely and shakes randomly while the patient runs, walks moves his body for some work. This also disturbs the metabolism and normal supply of blood and essential (bio)chemicals and thus hinders the health and vigor of these and other components of the body. Excessive eating, or fat-rich heavy food, habit of frequent eating that disturb healthy metabolism, are common causes of this disease”.       

If we eat more than what is essential for balanced nutrition of our body in terms of its natural constituent (prakrati) and mental-physical work, or if we eat frequently fatty or glucose or hydrocarbon rich substances or high-calorie edibles, these are not decomposed or transformed in the regular metabolic reactions and are thus not utilized in the healthy physiological and biochemical functions and requirements of the body. As a result, these get deposited as excess fat and flesh in those parts of the body that are less exercised or are naturally located and tuned to store the extra fat or flesh. Sometimes this extra accumulation could occur due to disorder of metabolism, which might be triggered by some malfunctioning or unnatural reaction (e.g. side-effects of a medicine or psychological complexity) at the hormonal, genetic, (bio)chemical or physiological level. This excess accumulation is referred as meda or sthaulya in Ayurveda. 

The word  “Obesity” of the modern medical science is derived from Latin “Obesus” which literally means – eating more.  Here overweight is defined as more than 10% above the average limit, statistically estimated from the ratio of body height and weight.

Accumulation of fat often begins on the tummy because natural stock of ‘meda’ lies in the stomach and the intestines; its excessive accumulation spreads disproportionately on the hips, thighs, arms, neck, chest, cheeks, etc with maximum on the tummy and hips, thus deforming the figure of the body and giving it a funny appearance. According to the Ayurveda theory, the excess of meda hinders the normal growth and distribution of all dhatus (vital elements, compounds produced or released by metabolism). As a result, bones, muscles, marrow, etc are deprived of adequate nourishment and strength. Weakening of the body components and disruption of some of its normal (healthy) functions naturally reduces the stamina and resistance and invites several other diseases. Even adequate breathing becomes a problem in most cases of obesity. This is why obesity is referred as the root cause of many other diseases and is referred so in Ayurveda Scriptures.

It is counted in Ayurveda among the eight blemishes of the body.  The list of these eight negative attributes prominently includes sthula (very fat) and k—aïakaya (very thin) bodies. For example, the shloka no. 21|1-2 of  “Sutra Sthanam” in “Charak Samhita” specifies —   “…. Tatratisthula K—aïayorbhuya evapare ninditaviïeÌa bhavanti |”  (Of these, the sthula and k—aïakaya are among the worst. However, as mentioned in the succeeding  shloka, (cited below) in relative comparison of the two, the thinner fellows are regarded as still better than the fat ones:          


Meaning: Thinness is much better than obesity because even if both are weak, a very fat person would suffer a disease more than what a very thin would.  The average lifetime of a very fat chap is also lesser.

As is generally observed, people might sympathize with a thin chap but would at a first sight laugh at the fat one. The fatter one’s body is, the more likely he is to be a subject of fun. Accordingly the scripture further states – “K—aïa¡ sthulat pujºta¡” (thinner ones are relatively more respected than the fats). 

Indeed health is an integral component of one’s personality. Healthy body, brilliant intellect and good character and conduct are the keys to success and prestige. One’s recognition and status in the society largely depend upon these factors.

Obesity is criticized not only for its role in making one less efficient, less resistant to diseases or funny in appearance but the scriptures also cite the severity of its consequent diseases and disorders, which have also been listed in the modern studies. Most common and high-risk health hazards that go like hand-in-gloves with obesity are — breathlessness, cardiac problems, high blood pressure and diabetes. Frequent fatigue, loss of efficiency and uncomfortable and laughable physique pulls their morale down and thus in many cases they are also found suffering from inferiority complex, depression and related psychological and neural complications.

At the root of most of the negative consequences of obesity lie the excess accumulation of fats and hydrocarbons that upsets the normal metabolism and thus in Ayruvedic terminology, augments the tridoÌas – vata, pitta and kapha, as per one’s natural constitution. Indigestion, constipation, acidity are frequent consequences. Exceptional hunger is also a consequence of increased vata in obesity, which amounts to further increase in patient’s body weight. Malfunctioning of the liver and kidney are more dangerous consequences of pitta and vata doÌas in prolonged obesity.  The problems caused by high vata are also most likely companions of obesity; these include — joint pain, backache, arthritis, sciatica, spondylitis, other problems of the spinal cord, hernia, varicose veins, osteoporosis, etc. The rise in kapha doÌa would add to the lethargy of fatty patients; short breaths, snoring, sleep apnea, are also common complaints in such cases; impotency would be an added risk if this doÌa were very high.      

Among the well-known hazardous effects of metabolic disorders and disruption of the regular production and supply of vital elements (dhatus, in Ayurvedic terminology) because of accumulation of excess fat and flesh are — reduction in useful cholesterol (H.D.L.) and increase in the harmful cholesterol (L.D.L.), which disturbs the rheology of blood and leads to blood pressure and heart related problems. The increased rigidity of red blood cells, coagulation propensity and inadequate blood flow also enhances the risk of brain stroke etc. Reduction in secretion of several vital hormones like insulin is another severe hazard of obesity, which is being researched all over the world. Deficiency of insulin secretion corresponds to alarming chances of diabetes.           

Therefore those desirous of good health and fitness should take necessary measures to prevent obesity along with the other diseases which they might be prone to because of family history, environment and physique, or living style and habits.  There is no need to panic or rush for extreme dieting. Only an alertness and discipline are required. Ayurveda and yoga provide you with substantial support in prevention and cure of this problem without taxing your money and peace of mind.      

As we all know, the early signs of obesity, except in case of pregnancy, are – gain in weight (above the usual range suitable for one’s height) with visible growth of the abdominal region. Rise in appetite, thirst, perspiration, fatigue or sleep above one’s normal trait are also definite signs of its onset if coupled with some other symptoms like drowsiness, lethargy, frequent desire to eat something sweet, feeling of swollen throat, stinking sweat, unusual odor of mouth, etc. The overweight of the body puts extra pressure on the knees and toes so these start paining and get swollen at times. 

The common causes of obesity as described in “Sutra Sthanam” (21|3) of “Charak Samhita” include  – consuming heavy (lavish, deep-fried) foods, sweet and oily (rich in fats) dishes, or cold eatables, alcohols and cold drinks; relaxing or sleeping immediately after taking meals; eating frequently.  The scripture also cites hereditary factors and certain kinds of brain secretions (rasa) as other contributory causes. All of these factors (which have been affirmed by modern health scientists and nutritionists) have become more pronounced now and hence there has been significant rise in occurrence of obesity. Obesity has therefore become a cause of deep concern on the health scenario of urbanized population. 

Most of us might be well informed that the frequent and substantial use of cheese, butter, deep-fried spicy foods, chocolates, cakes, ice-creams, pizza, burgers, other fast-food items, pastries, sweets, dry-fruits, coffee, alcoholic and cold drinks should be avoided to minimize the risk of high cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, etc. But we somehow have got so used to these that unless these affect our health and the doctors warn us we don’t restrain ourselves at all. Moreover, the risk is higher in today’s life style, as we don’t want to do physical work at home and prefer living in as much comfort as possible. What could be worse, the culture of watching TV with munching adds to these negative habits right from childhood!  Above all, there are subtler self-invited hazards too!  We shall discuss them all in the next issue, where we shall also present some easy to adopt, low-cost, naturally effective remedial and preventive measures available from Ayurvedic knowledge.