OBESITY

OBESITY


The condition in which excess fat has accumulated in the body, mostly in the subcutaneous tissues, clinical obesity is considered to be present when a person has a Body mass index of 30 or over

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder of recent years in western societies. Some patients may require surgical treatment to attain worth while weight reduction, drug treatments also exist.

Weight in KG
BMI = ––––––––––––––––
(Height in meters) 2

WHO Classification of over Weight

Classification BMI (KG/ M2) Associated health risk
Under weight < 18.5 Low (But risk of other clinical problems
increased)

Normal 18.5 – 24.9 Average
Over weight ≥ 25
Per obese 25 – 29.9 Increased
Obese classI 30 – 34.9 Moderately increased
Obese class II 35 – 39.9 Severely increased
Obese class III ≥40 Very Severely increased




Causes of Obesity

 Simple
Endogenous - constitutional
Exogenous – Over eating lack of exercise

 Other causes
Endocrine causes
a) Pituitary – Frohlich’s syndrome
Pregnancy
Climacteric both males & Females
b) Thyroid - Hypothyroidism
c) Adrenal cortex - Cushing’s Syndrome
d) Gonads - Polycystic ovaries
e) Pancreas - Islet cell tumors
f) Hypothalamus - Encephalitis
- Meningo encephalitis
- Cranio pharyngioma
- 3rd ventricle tumors
Drugs:
Anti convulsants
Anti psychotics
Anti depressants
Cortico steroids
Insulin

Types of body fat distribution

Pear type: Fat accumulates mainly around hips and thighs (Gynoid distribution) characteristics of females.

Apple type: Fat storage mainly in the abdomen (android distribution), found in both sexes.


Effects of obesity (Complications)

1. Brain - Cerebro vascular accidents (CVA), mental disturbances.
2. C.V.S. - Coronary Heart diseases (CHD)
3. Vascular - Hypertension , varicose vein, pedal edema,
4. Respiratory - Dyspnoea
5. G.I.T - Hiatus hernia, Gall stone, Constipation.
6. Joints - OA, Backache
7. Endocrine &
Metabolic - NIDDM, Hyper lipidemia, menstrual irregularities,impotence
8. Malignancy - Cancers such as ca.ovary,endometrium,cervix,breast,prostate
9. Skin - Rashes
10. Pregnancy - Perinatal mortality, per eclampsia, Gestationaldiabetes,
Caesarian sections
11. Psychic -These individuals are very unhappy. Different psychosomatic
problems may also develop.

Management:

1.Exercise.
2.Diet.
Foods to be avoided – Bread and anything made with flour, cereals, potatoes and other whole root vegetables, foods containing much sugar, all sweets and salt, fatty foods like cream, butter, fat, beans, and pork, fluids not more than 2 pints a day.
No restriction of meat, fish and fowl.
Take large amount of green leafy vegetables and fruits.
3.Psychotherapy- Motivation for weight reduction must be cultivated in the patient’s mind.
4.Surgery - Gastroplication- Jejuno ileal by pass
5.Starvation therapy- It may be helpful sometime

Homoeopathic Management

Am.Brom, Am.mur, Anti.crud, Aurnm.met, Bar.carb, Cal.carb, Capsicum, Fucus.vesi, Graph, Fer.met, Kali bich, Kali carb, Lyco, Phyto, Sulph, Thyroidinum.


 Phytolacca. Berry Q (Phytoline Q) - Attended with difficulty in walking, sitting, palpitation, dyspnea on the least exertion, nausea, eructations. A great fat reducer.

 Aesculentine Q- Another great fat reducer, may be alternated with phytoline.


 Calotropis Q – Obesity, while flesh decreases, muscles becomes, harder and firmer

 Fucus. Vesiculosis Q, 1x, if attended with indigestion and flatulence. A remedy for obesity and non-toxic goiter, obstinate constipation, thyroid enlargement in obese subjects.