WHAT IS OBESITY

Obesity can be best described as the most common nutritional disorder specially in the affluent group of people. It is a condition in which excessive accumulation of fat takes place in the body due to intake of food in excess of physiological requirements. Therefore, overnutrition is as much malnutrition as undernutrition is. An excess of 50 calories per day can increase about 25 Kgs in a period of ten years.

Obesity has been classified into 3 types as follows, depending upon the excess in weight:
Above Normal Weight
Mildly obese 10-15%
Moderately obese 10-20%
Very obese 20% and above

Obesity is generally caused by two factors i.e.:
1. Exogenous - Overeating or intake of excessive energy.
2. Endogenous -- Due to inherent metabolic disturbance of the body.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE OBESE

Obesity should not be taken lightly. Obesity means you are 20% or more above the recommended weight for your sex, age, height and bone structure. Extra pounds beneath the 20% mark simply mean you are over-weight.

CAUSES OF OBESITY

Obesity can occur both in male and female at any age. However, it is more common in female.
Some of the following factors may contribute to the development of obesity:

1. It is common in those who take excess of food with little physical work or exercise.
2. Excessive eating habits is also one of the factors.
3. Obesity is rarely seen amongst active persons and it is more common in those with

ADVERSE EFFECT OF OBESITY

1. Obesity reduces the life expectancy.
2. Obesity produces the following physical disabilities: Abdominal Hernias, Varicose Veins, Flat Feet,Bronchitis.
e. Osteoarthritis of Knee, Hips and Lumber Spine
3. Due to poor reflexes, liable to fall down on slippery floors.
4. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) It leads to greater wear and tear of the entire vascular system and consequently it doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. It may also cause damage to kidneys.
5. It also produces metabolic disorders such as: Gout, Cholesterol in Arteries, Stone in Gall Bladder, Diabetes Mellitus. It is needless to add that 'Excess Weight' (Obesity) is linked to a higher risk of heart diseases and therefore it increases the overall risk of death particularly to persons with Diabetes or Cardiovascular disease.

REDUCING WEIGHT (OBESITY)

It is estimated that an active person will burn about 12-13 calories a day per pound of body weight. Therefore, a person having weight 140 pounds will need roughly 1700-1800 calories a day to maintain that weight, and less to reduce it. This can be used as a guideline for planning weight loss programme, by reducing calorie intake.

It is already stated that obesity is caused by intake of excess calorie and furthermore the lack of physical work or exercise is also one of the contributory factors. Thus, reducing weight means one has to reduce calorie intake by reducing his high-calorie diet. It may therefore be suggested to an obese adult to stick to his daily diet providing 1300 kcal (calorie) which may help in reducing about 0.5 - 1 Kg. a week. The reducing diets should contain adequate amounts of Proteins, Vitamins and Minerals. Once the body weight comes to the standard level according to the height, the weight maintenance diets (adequate in Proteins, Vitamins and Minerals) should be taken to keep weight constant i.e. between 1700-1800 kcal (calories). Therefore, daily diet should contain balanced amount of cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, roots and tubers, fruits, milk, fats and oils, sugar and jaggery, groundnut (roasted); meat /fish /eggs (to be excluded by vegetarian).

IMPORTANT TIPS TO REDUCE OBESITY

1. You may not eat or drink the following:
a. Bacon, Fatty Meats, Sausages
b. Beer, Liquor, Wines
c. Butter, Margarines
d. Cakes, Cookies, Crackers, Doughnuts, Pastries, Pies
e. Candy, Chocolates, Nuts
f. Creams - Sweet and Sour, Cream, Cheese, Non-Dairy Cream
g. French Fried Potatoes, Potato Chips
h. Pizza, Popcorn, Snack Foods
i. Gelatin Desserts, Puddings (Sugar-Sweetened)
j. Gravies and Sauces
k. Honey, Jams, Jellies, Sugar and Syrup
l. Ice Cream, Ices, Ice Milk, Sherbets
m. Milk Whole
n. Muffins, Pan Cakes, Waffles
o. Olives
p. Soda (Sugar-Sweetened)
q. Yoghurt (Fruit-Flavoured)

2. Buy a reliable scale to weight yourself and a kitchen scale to weight your food.
3. Set a long term weight loss aim.
4. Cut down on salt.
5. Eat from a small plate.
6. Do not skip meals - else being hungry you will overeat at the next meal
7. Do not eat while you are out.
8. Weigh yourself quite often.
9. Do not be tempted by prohibited foods.
10. Do not eat while reading, watching TV, Video or games etc.
11. Keep tempting foods out of sight.
12. Try to relax.
13. Control your urge to eat.
14. Control the amount you eat.
15. Do not finish everything on your plate.
16. Eat little at dinner.

As a matter of fact, the Author of this article (Dr. Sayeed Ahmad) was also one of the victims of obesity. Control over diets, doing daily light exercise and taking of Homoeopathic Medicines greatly helped him to win over this problem. A few years ago, his weight was 84 Kgs with an height of 5 feet 6 inches and consequently he was obese and over-weight and presently his weight is about 64 Kgs and only due to his own homoeopathic treatment he could reduce about twenty Kgs and he is now fit and fine.

LEADING HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES FOR REDUCING OBESITY

AMMONIUM MUR.
In case the body is fat and legs are thin. With large buttocks. Full of grief, but cannot weep. Irritability and disposition to be angry.Very severe ulcerative pain in the heel, > by rubbing. The feet get very cold in the evening in bed.

ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM
Children and young person with tendency to grow fat with coated moist white tongue. The subject needing this remedy may belch a great deal, and the eructations may taste of the ingesta. Bloating after eating.

AURUM METALLICUM
Fat patients with Arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure. With fatty degeneration of heart. Patients with melancholy, hopelessness, profound depression, tendency to suicide and longing for death. Pain in heart region extending down left arm to fingers. Chilliness predominates; coldness of hands and feet, sometimes lasting all night.

CALCAREA CARBONICA
This is the main remedy for reducing obesity. The characteristic symptom is sweating on the forehead which wets the pillow when sleeping. It should be given in 200 potency with weekly repetition. This can be prescribed to obese children also. The patient's hand is soft, warm, and moist; a boneless hand with clammy feet. Great sensitiveness to cold, damp air. Dread of bathing and water. Great weakness on ascending, on walking and talking.

CAPSICUM
It is particularly suited to people who are weak of lax fiber and who have little vital heat. The digestion is poor and they suffer from myalgia (aching and jerking of muscles). They have burning pains but hate the cold. Often indicated in old people who have exhausted their vitality. This remedy is very suitable for children also. The mental state shows home-sickness. > From heat is the most important modality.

FERRUM METALLICUM
Obesity with anaemia, face puffy with pitting of flesh. This remedy is recommended to children also. Delicate girls, fearfully constipated, with low spirits. The pulse of the patient is full and yielding. < From eating eggs. This remedy should be given carefully in haemorrhagic phthisis, as it may aggravate. Rheumatic symptoms, especially of left shoulder and deltoid.

< In cold weather, and > in warm air. Great lassitude and general weakness. Great need to lie down.

FUCUS VESICULOSUS
It is given when Calcarea Carbonica fails. It should be given in drop doses of mother tincture. It is very effective in cases of indigestion, obstinate constipation and flatulence. It is suitable to people with enlarged thyroid glands. Goitre has been cured with it.

GRAPHITES
Obesity in females with delayed menstruation. Indicated for fair, fat, chilly, constipated people who have skin trouble. Helpful to those who have lost desire for sex.

KALI BICHROMICUM
It is especially suited to fair-haired, fat persons, especially fat, chubby children; fat, sluggish people. Gastrtic symptoms supersede rheumatic symptoms. Liability to take cold in the open air. Great debility, with desire to lie down.

KALI CARBONICUM
This remedy is especially good for older fat people who are characterized by sweat, backache and weakness. This remedy should be used cautiously in Bright's disease and Tuberculosis. This remedy is for dark haired persons of lax fibre and inclined to be fat.

PHYTOLACCA BERRY
One of the effective weight and corpulence reducing remedies.

PHYTOLINE
This remedy is a great fat reducer. It is recommended if the patient is having difficulty in walking, sitting, palpitation, dyspnoea on least exertion, nausea, eructations. It is used in mother tincture.

THYROIDINUM
In excessive obesity, it acts better in pale patients rather than those of high colour. This remedy is a powerful diuretic and is very useful in myxodema and various types of edema.