Obesity (severe overweight) is one of the major risk factors for the health and mental well-being of people in the 21st century. Therefore, preventing obesity in children and adolescents is of paramount importance.

A body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m² indicates overweight. Obesity begins at a BMI of 30.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (as of 2014), two-thirds of men (67%) and half of women (53%) in Germany are overweight. A quarter of adults (23% of men and 24% of women) are even severely overweight (obese).

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Obesity also leads to a variety of secondary diseases:

• Metabolic diseases, for example type 2 diabetes or gout
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, e.g. osteoarthritis
• Diseases of organs, for example the kidney, liver, gallbladder
• Male infertility
• Mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders or depression due to exclusion or stigmatization in everyday life because of obesity

causes

According to conventional medical understanding, obesity is an excess of body mass and fat. The most common cause is consuming more calories through food than the body needs, combined with a lack of exercise. The following causes of overweight and obesity can be distinguished:

• Genetics: Every person has a so-called basal metabolic rate, which they burn at complete rest and which is presumably genetically determined.
• Eating disorders: In some people, the feeling of satiety sets in only after a high calorie intake. This may be hormonally related: hormones and nerve impulses signal the fullness of the stomach to the brain, creating a feeling of fullness. If this transmission is disrupted, one eats more than necessary.
• Psychological causes: Unhappy people often eat more to feel better.
• Lack of exercise leads to correspondingly lower energy consumption and digestive problems.
• Medications: The pill, cortisone and some psychotropic drugs can stimulate appetite and lead to water retention in the body.
• Other underlying diseases of hormone-producing organs (e.g., hypothyroidism) can also lead to obesity.

All cells in the human body contain fat. For example, the cell membrane of a typical blood cell consists of roughly equal parts saturated and unsaturated fat. The correct ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats is crucial for proper cell function. In overweight individuals, however, the cell membrane contains an abnormal mixture of fat molecules. An excess of saturated fatty acids increases the risk of diabetes by placing chronic stress on the cells. If this lipid imbalance persists, it can even lead to programmed cell death (Source: https://www.muk.uni-frankfurt.de/75018797/Wie_Fette_die_Zellmembran_unter_Stress_setzen? ).

Obesity in Ayurveda

As with all health-related questions, Ayurveda always begins with determining the constitution of the individual. In the case of obesity, this initially provides information about the respective "Ideal weight“:

Vata-dominant constitutions tend to be underweight. However, they often cope with stress by consuming sweets and therefore v.a. tends to accumulate belly fat, especially with predominantly sedentary work.Kapha dominance generally signifies a high degree of body mass and therefore high body weight, which, unlike Vata dominance, is not concentrated solely in the abdomen but distributed throughout the entire body. The body shape associated with Pitta dosha is more athletic and powerful and, in Ayurveda, represents a medium body weight. Pitta constitutions have regular and strong digestion. Weight problems only arise in combination with Vata or Kapha – and this v.a. in the hip and thigh area.

It is important to understand that ALL basic constitutions can develop excess weight over the course of life.

Obesity was described by the Indian physician and author of classical Ayurvedic texts, Charaka, as one of the eight difficult-to-treat diseases. When a person has an excessive accumulation of “Meda“ (fatty tissue) and “Mamsa"Having (a lot of meat) is called obesity."

According to Ayurvedic understanding, adipose tissue, like Kapha, consists of the elements earth and water. If we consume food that is difficult to digest, cold, fatty, and sweet, and also get little exercise, Meda becomes overfed.

In Ayurveda, obesity is therefore also referred to as “MedorogaThis condition is described as a Kapha imbalance, caused by a disturbed digestive fire (Agni) and consequently the formation of Ama (incompletely metabolized food) in the body. The Ama blocks microchannels in the body and thus increases Medhas (fatty tissue).

Since the digestive fire (Agni) and consequently the metabolism weaken with age, plenty of exercise and a diet suited to one's doshas are particularly important in the second half of life. However, an excess of Vata, for example due to too much stress, also negatively affects the strength of Agni.

Ayurveda proposes a range of measures to reduce obesity:
Diet, lifestyle changes, medicinal plants, massages, yoga, and a Panchakarma treatment.

In Ayurvedic understanding, the diet should v.aIt is Kapha-reducing. Therefore, preferred foods have the qualities of being light, bitter, astringent, pungent, and clear, and are mostly heating. Examples include hot spices, hot water, barley grains, and mustard oil. Foods containing yeast, white flour, frozen foods, and red meat should be avoided.

Crucial in the Food intake In Ayurveda, however, it is not only the “what” but also the “How“:

• The food should be freshly prepared and eaten calmly and thoroughly chewed.
• Regular mealtimes, with lunch as the main meal, are important.
• You should not eat anything three hours before going to sleep.
• No cold drinks, but hot water or teas with meals (ideally: boiled drinking water with a little cumin and coriander seeds).
• Only eat when you are truly hungry. And then two handfuls are enough per meal.

Join in Methods for stress reduction Yoga and meditation are beneficial, as weight loss is impossible with elevated Vata. Any physical and mental activity also helps stimulate metabolism. Furthermore, cleansing enemas with Kapha-reducing herbs are often part of Panchakarma treatments.

Furthermore, Ayurveda sees special medicinal plants for the breakdown of fat and ama. These must be pungent and bitter; therefore, Trikatu is the first choice when it comes to stimulating Agni and activating tissue metabolism.

Obesity in Traditional Chinese Medicine

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), obesity is often due to a weakness in the functional circuit "spleen“or in the functional circle “stomach“(a so-called “heat” process). Both cases share the common feature of a disruption in the inflow and outflow of substances in the body's metabolism, leading to an accumulation of “slag materials" comes.

Analogous to the formation of Agni in Ayurveda, TCM speaks here of “Tan formationTan hinders the supply of nutrients to the cells and their removal, leading to cellular starvation while nutrient stores are simultaneously overfilled. Therefore, TCM therapy for obesity always aims to eliminate Tan.

As with every therapy In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the initial step is the medical history, including pulse and tongue diagnosis. Based on this, individualized formulas are prescribed to help the body eliminate the Tan (toxins). While this is not a long-term solution, it provides short-term relief by adjusting dietary habits and improving the body's perception of individual satiety.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), obesity can only be addressed in the long term through proper nutrition. Excessive consumption of meat and dairy products, for example, promotes the accumulation of Tan (a type of toxin). If the cause of the obesity is a weakness in the Spleen meridian, its Qi can be strengthened, for example, by energetically warming foods with a neutral to sweet taste, such as grains, beef, lamb, and chicken.

In addition, metabolism can be specifically stimulated through acupuncture, massages (Tuina) and meditative movement techniques such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong.

Important nutrients for fat metabolism

The Maitake Studies suggest it could reduce the storage of fat and glucose in the liver and thus prevent weight gain.

A very recent study from 2020 was the first to investigate the effects of a daily dose of 9.2 g of maitake extract over four weeks on type 2 diabetes and obesity in humans – with the result that there were significant positive effects on health through a reduction in triglyceride levels. Furthermore, an animal study in mice showed that maitake contributes to lowering blood sugar and triglyceride levels and reduces fat tissue. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32464000/

Choline contributes to normal fat metabolism.

At Trikatu It's a mix of ginger, long pepper, and black pepper that stimulates the metabolism. In Ayurveda, the digestive fire, Agni, is central to fat burning, so food should be as spicy and bitter as possible; both of which perfectly describe Trikatu.

A 2004 animal study in rats postulated that Trikatu, due to its ability to lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol, could reduce the risk of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Therefore, Trikatu could be used as a potent hypolipidemic agent and reduce atherosclerosis associated with a high-fat diet. Human studies are still pending. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15742354/

L-Carnitine L-carnitine is essential for the energy metabolism of human cells. It plays an important role in fat metabolism and, as an acceptor molecule (allowing fatty acids to pass through the mitochondrial membrane), ensures the uptake of fatty acids into the mitochondria, the so-called "powerhouses" of the cells, where they are converted into energy. L-carnitine accumulates mainly in heart tissue and skeletal muscle, as it v.aIt is needed where there is an increased energy demand. The heart muscle, for example.It covers up to 80% of its energy needs from the breakdown of fatty acids.

A 2007 doctoral dissertation study at the University of Rostock found a significant influence of L-carnitine on orocecal transit time; further studies are needed. Patients requiring dialysis often need to supplement with L-carnitine because large amounts of it are lost during dialysis. http://rosdok.uni-rostock.de/file/rosdok_disshab_0000000031/rosdok_derivate_0000003432/Dissertation-Duerr-2008.pdf

The active ingredient in Garcinia Cambogia This is the calcium salt of hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is found in such high concentrations in hardly any other fruit. Scientific research focuses on its potential inhibition of fat synthesis from proteins and carbohydrates, as well as the possible inhibition of a key enzyme in fat metabolism. This could lead to excess carbohydrates being converted into glycogen and thus no longer stored as fat. However, conclusive clinical studies on this are still pending.

A 2003 study investigated the effects of short-term HCA supplementation on endurance performance and fat metabolism in untrained women. In two double-blind crossover trials, six participants took 250 mg of HCA or a placebo for five days and then participated in a cycle ergometer workout. HCA tended to decrease the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and carbohydrate oxidation during one hour of exercise. Additionally, it significantly increased the time to exhaustion. These results suggest that HCA increases fat metabolism, which may be associated with a decrease in glycogen utilization during steady-state exercise and improved exercise performance. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12953793/

The active ingredient in Bitter orange extract is synephrine, which v.aSynephrine is a phenylethylamine found in the body. It is present in the peel and pulp of fruit. v.a. β3-adrenoceptors activated.

A 2016 double-blind study supports the hypothesis that synephrine contributes to fat burning when the user exercises after ingestion. The study involved 18 young, healthy adults who took either 3 mg/kg of body weight synephrine or a placebo one hour before a workout on a stationary bike. As long as the subjects remained stationary, synephrine had no effect on their fat and carbohydrate burning. However, at light to moderate exercise intensity, synephrine significantly increased fat burning. The maximum fat oxidation rate increased by approximately 38% with synephrine. d.hTranslated into weight terms, this means that 7g more fat was burned per hour of workout without any additional physical exertion. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27038225/

The Coenzyme Q10 It supports the mitochondria in fat burning. The body produces most of our Q10 needs itself; however, this decreases with age.

A randomized, double-blind study from 2016 was conducted among 60 overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26385228/
Compared to the placebo group, Q10 supplementation of 100 mg daily over a period of 8 weeks led to a significant reduction in insulin levels and a significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations.

2017 Study Background: The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of Q10 supplementation on adiponectin concentration (a peptide hormone produced in fat cells that regulates hunger and food intake) and glucose metabolism in overweight and obese diabetic patients. Coenzyme Q10 significantly reduced HbA1c levels in overweight and obese patients with diabetes.Furthermore, the potential anti-adipogenic effect of Q10 could explain the significant reduction in weight and waist circumference, and thus the decrease in adipolines. Further studies are needed to evaluate the precise role of coenzyme Q10 on adipose tissue and adiponectins. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27657997/

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German and European law aims to protect consumers from potentially misleading claims about product effects. The statements made here refer to original Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) texts. This millennia-old, traditional knowledge is based on experiences passed down from generation to generation. It is not intended that the products described here have any effect in the sense of Western medicine. All products are dietary supplements; they are not medications and have no medicinal effect. If you are ill and require medical attention, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.