Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine that offers holistic treatments for childhood obesity. It focuses on the root cause of the issue, rather than just treating the symptoms. Ayurveda practiced in Kerala is known for its authentic treatments, including ayurveda for childhood obesity. There are a number of ayurvedic hospitals in Cochin that offer various herbal ayurvedic medicines for childhood obesity. Do note that there are no quick-fix solutions as far as obesity and ayurveda are concerned.
Childhood obesity is a critical health issue impacting physical health, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing. It occurs when a child is significantly overweight compared to their age and height, leading to a higher BMI (body mass index), a measure of body fat based on weight and height. Persistent weight gain in childhood can lead to serious health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, breathing difficulties, joint issues, stroke, heart disease, and certain cancers. Contributing factors include genetics, diet, environment, and behavior. Preventing childhood obesity involves minimizing screen time, promoting a healthy diet, and encouraging outdoor activities to enhance physical activity. Effective management is crucial to mitigate potential health risks associated with pediatric obesity.
Childhood obesity is a complex issue attributable to multiple causes and should likewise be treated with a multi-pronged approach. Here’s a look at some common causes of childhood obesity:
Here is a look at some ayurvedic remedies for childhood obesity:
Palliative (Shamana) treatments:
Purificatory stage (Samshodhana Chikitsa):
Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages is believed to be a key contributor to the current epidemic of obesity in children, and are a favorite drink of choice for millions of kids around the world. Consuming these sugary drinks increases the risk of excessive weight gain, tooth decay and other preventable diseases in adulthood such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Body weight is maintained by physiological mechanisms that maintain a balance between energy consumed and energy burnt. Childhood obesity occurs when there is an imbalance between these two factors, with the surplus energy ending up stored as body fat. Childhood obesity is generally caused by excessive consumption of unhealthy food, high-calorie beverages, limited physical activities as well as medical and genetic factors.
The best way to tell if your child is obese is by calculating their BMI (body mass index). The BMI calculator employs a formula that uses the child’s body weight relative to their height, to produce a score that tells whether the child is overweight. The child is considered obese if his/her BMI is at/above 95th percentile for children with same age/gender.
On its own, childhood obesity is not a disease, and doesn’t guarantee that the child will develop other health conditions in the future. However, it should be kept in mind that obesity itself can become a precursor for other medical conditions and lead to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, breathing problems, etc.
For ayurvedic detox, you can eat vegetarian foods that are not processed but are freshly cooked. Easily digestible foods rich in probiotics, fiber and Indian spices are ideal during a detox. Non-vegetarian foods, oily foods, alcohol and coffee are best avoided.