Diet Cure for Obesity - Home remedies, symptom, cause, treatment of Obesity

What is Obesity?

Obesity may be described as a bodily condition charactrised by excessive storage of fat in the adipose tissues. It usually results from consumption of food in excess of physiological needs. Obesity is common among people in Western countries and among the higher income groups in India and other developing countries.

What are the symptom of Obesity?

Obesity is generally assessed by relating the patient's weight to charts of standard weight according to age, sex and height and then categorise them as 10, 20, or 30 per cent over-weight. However, normal weight depends on body build and some people, who inherit a large frame and bulk muscles, may weight more than the standard weight, without being obese. A more scientific assessment of obesity would, therefore, be by the proportion of fat in the total body weight. Mean values of body fat for the normal young men are about 12 per cent and for young women about 26 per cent. A man whose body fat amounts to more than 20 per cent of his total weight may be regarded obese and for a woman a figure of more than 30 per cent represents obesity.

What are the causes of Obesity?

The chief cause of obesity , most often, is overeating - that is, the intake of calories beyond the body's energy requirement. Some people have a habit of eating too much while others may be in the habit of consuming high- calorie foods. These people gain weight continuously as they fail to adjust their appetite to reduced energy requirements. There has, in recent times, been an increasing awareness of the psychological aspects of obesity. Persons who are generally bored, unhappy, lonely or unloved, those who are discontented with their families, or social or financial standing usually tend to overeat as eating is a pleasure and solace to them.

Dietary Treatment of Obesity and home remedies

A suitably planned course of dietetic treatment, in conjunction with suitable exercise and other measures for promoting elimination, is the only scientific way of dealing with obesity. The chief consideration in this treatment should be the balanced selection of foods which provide the maximum essential nutrients with the least number of calories.

To begin with, the patient should undertake a juice fast for seven to ten days, juices of lemon , grapefruit, orange, pineapple, cabbage, celery may be taken during this period. Long juice fast upto forty days can also be undertaken, but only under the expert guidance and supervision. In the alternative, short juice fasts should be repeated at regular intervals of two months or so till the desired reduction in weight is achieved. During the first few days of the treatment and afterwards if necessary, the bowels should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema.

After the juice fast, the patient should spend a further four to five days on all-fruit diet. IN this regimen he should have three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as oranges, grape-fruit, pineapples and papayas. Thereafter, he may gradually embark upon a low-calorie well- balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits, with emphasis on raw fruits. vegetables and fresh juices.

The foods which should be drastically curtailed or altogether avoided are high-fat foods such as butter, cheese, chocolate, cream, ice cream, fat meats, fried foods, foods high in carbohydrates like breads, candy, cake, cookies, cereal products, legumes, potatoes, honey, sugar, syrup and rich puddings ; beverages such as all cold drinks and alcoholic drinks.

Along with dietetic treatment, the patient should adopt all other natural methods of reducing weight. Exercise is an important part of weight reduction plan. It helps to use up calories stored in body fat and relieves tension, besides toning up the muscles of the body. Certain yogic asanas such as sarvngasana, bhujangasana, dhanurasana, chakrasana, vajrasana and yogamudra are also highly beneficial. They help slimming by breaking up or redistributing fatty deposits and strengthen the flabby areas. The patient should adopt measures which bring on excessive perspiration such as sauna baths, steam bath and heavy massage. They help to reduce weight. And above all, the obese persons should make every effort to avoid negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, hostility and insecurity and develop a positive outlook on life.