Pathophysiology of Obesity:

• Due to eating of heavy, cold, sweet, and oily foods, derangement of the digested food mass takes place and produces Ama or improperly digested food, which disturbs the process of nutrition in the body
• due to this production the first tissue of the seven plasma (rasa-dhatu), is not properly formed.
• Instead the food undergoes fermentation and putrefaction, being retained in the stomach

Management of obesity
Ayurveda recommends a multidimensional approach in the management of obesity.
The treatment planed with consideration of its causative factors on six levels:

• Weakening of the digestive fire or metabolic power in the adipose tissue.
• production of Ama or improperly digested food.
• Disturbed vata or nervous energy.
• blockage of the channels.
• Lifestyle factors.
• Lack of exercise.

The vicious cycle Which results in obesity must be broken.

• To raise the metabolic power or digestive fire in the adipose tissue , herbs like guggule, shilajit and trikatu are used.
• Ama production is treated by toxin -burning herbs like guggulu, shilajit and kantakari.
• Aggravation of Vata is treated by medicated enemas of the cleaning intestine (Niruha and Anuvasana basti).
• Channel blockage is alleviated by fat- reducing (lekhanas) herbs.
• Life style factors relate primarily to diet and exercise.
• Diet emphasizing pungent and bitter tastes, which are composed of the light elements of fire , air and ether, are advocated as they produce lightness in the body.
• Sweet taste is restricted in the diet as its earth and water elements increase heaviness.
• Exercise with gradual increase according to the strength of the patient is advised.
• No strong exertion or straining is recommended by Ayurveda
• Exercises are recommended that are simple toper form.