Why are we becoming fat?

An inactive lifestyle and unhealthy diet are the main culprits. “White bread, white rice, phulkas...the overall intake of simple carbohydrates is huge. The widespread availability of fast food is also a problem,” says Ambrish Mithal, chairman and head, department of endocrinology and diabetes, at Medanta, the Medicity, Gurugram.

The higher people rise in the social order, the less they work by hand. “Whatever little movement we do is paid activity, like going to the gym or yoga,” says Sapra. Taking a 1-hour exercise class lulls us into thinking we‟ve done enough when we actually should be turning our entire day into a mini-workout if we want to maintain a healthy weight. 

A bad lifestyle is the key cause of obesity; contrary to popular belief, the experts we spoke to say genetics or metabolic disorders such as thyroid do not play a significant role. “People are getting metabolic problems because they are obese, and not the other way round,” says Dr Mithal.                                   

Obesity Signs and Symptoms Mentioned in the Ayurvedic Texts
Accumulation of fat in the abdomen, increased sweating are early symptoms of the impaired health condition. Obese people develop excessive hunger and thirst, weakness, loss of vitality, loss of sexual desire and others.

The deposition of excess fat appears on the abdomen and upper body in males and females.

Overweight people suffer from lethargy as body tissues are not properly formed. If symptoms are not adequately treated, various complications occur such as hypertension, increased cholesterol, cardiac disorders, heartburn, kidney infections, diabetes and mental confusion.