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Obesity is defined as an
excess amount of body fat. The normal amount
of body fat (expressed as a percentage of
body weight) is between 25-30% in women and
18-23% in men. Women with over 30% body fat
and men with over 25% body fat are
considered obese. Another easier way of
defining obesity is by calculating the body
mass index (BMI). The BMI is a mathematical
formula that takes into account both a
person's weight and height in calculating
the degree of obesity. As per Indian
Standards in adults, normal weight is
defined as a BMI between 18 and 23 BMI
units, overweight from 23 to 27, obesity
from 27 to 30, morbid obesity from 30 &
above.Eighty percent of deaths related to
obesity occurs in obese individuals with a
BMI greater than 30.
What Causes Obesity
• Calories When a
person consumes more calories than he burns
then the excess calories get stored in the
form of fat causing obesity.
• Genetic factors –Obesity
tends to run in families. If parents are fat
then the offspring also show a tendency to
accumulate fat. Even the diet and lifestyle
habits which are practiced in family also
contribute to obesity.
• Environment. – A person’s
eating habits and the level of physical
activities a person has also contribute for
excess deposition of fat. When a person eats
food containing more calories and has a
sedentary work then the calories consumed are
more than calories burnt. The excess amount
calories are stored as fat.
• Psychological disturbances.-
There is a tendency to over eat in response to
negative emotions like boredom, sadness or
anger. This leads to obesity.
• Binge eating disorder.
• Diseases and
conditions like Hypothyroidism,
Cushing's syndrome, Depression, and certain
neurological problems lead to overeating which
in turn leads to accumulation of fat
According to ayurveda the
causes of obesity are defined as :
1. Avyayama
: Not exerting physically
2. Divaswapna : Sleeping in
afternoon.
3. Shleshmala Ahara
Vihara : The diet and life styles
which increase Kapha
4. Madhura Annaha
: Consuming sweetened foods .
Disease due to Obesity
Obesity leads to the following problems.
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Type-2 diabetes
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Heart disease.
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High Blood pressure.
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Infertility
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Irregular menstruation in women.
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Gall stones
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Stroke
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Few types of Cancers
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Liver diseases
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Osteoarthritis.
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Gout
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