A REVIEW OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY – ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA

Abstract

In present era, childhood obesity is of major concern. As the future of nation or community is dependent on the future of a child but due to modern lifestyle and dietary changes the child became more prevalent to obesity which in turn causes various diseases in later life. It was mentioned in Ayurveda that main cause of obesity is the intake of imbalance and improper Ahar and indulgence in improper Vihar. Now a days due to modern and urban civilization the children are affected by various factors like modified dietary habit, sedentary life style, physical inactivity, junk food, and other activity which ultimately produce childhood obesity and causes various disease in adulthood. In Ayurveda in the context of Ashta Ninditiya Purush, Sthoulya is mentioned which can be compared to obesity. Acharayas have mentioned causative factors, pathophysiology, clinical features, treatment etc., for Sthoulya. This review article aims to gain and collect all these information related to Sthoulya and to apply them for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.