Despite the fact that people try diet upon diet, gimmicks, exercises, and fads, obesity has become a modern Western disease of major proportions. Over 60% of North Americans are 15 pounds or more over their optimum weight. Obesity shortens life, restricts mobility, decreases enjoyment, reduces attractiveness (less sex), lowers self-esteem, and diminishes awareness. Given all this, why is our culture seemingly uncontrollably overweight? What can Ayurveda do about it?

Ayurveda sees four major factors contributing to the problem: (1) over-abundance, (2) toxins, (3) sedentary lifestyles, and (4) failure of the intellect. The ancient science of Ayurveda has tried and true answers to this modern dilemma.

Ayurveda is the 5,000 year old "Science of Life". It is an all-inclusive science, encompassing every facet of living. It began with ancient Holy men so connected to the Divine that the deepest truths were accessible to them. They then made these truths available to all beings, first through an oral history and later through written texts.

Ayurveda was the world's first medical system. It used food, surgery, herbs, exercise, and meditation to bring the sick back into harmony. Ayurveda is the only medical system which recognizes that different people have different metabolisms. Ayurveda treats each "bodytype" differently. "One man's food is another man's poison", observed Hippocrates, the father of Greek medicine. Dr. Deepak Chopra has created an enormous awareness of this medical system through his best selling books, tapes, and personal appearances.

Ayurveda distinguishes three main bodytypes:

Now that you understand something of Ayurveda, let us examine the causes of obesity from an Ayurvedic perspective.

Next topic: Over-Abundance