Well-being Q&A: Tummy fat
Dr VL Shyam, MD (Ay), M Phil, answers queries exclusively for readers of Friday
I am a 14-year-old girl, 1.6m tall and weigh 69.8 kg. I walk for an hour every day and do pushups and crunches, but I have not been able to shed the fat around my belly. I include a lot of veggies and fruits in my diet and don't consume fizzy drinks. Does Ayurveda have a remedy for me to lose weight?
YK Khan, Pakistan
Your Body Mass Index of 26.4 puts you in the overweight range as per the World Health Organisation's standards. Ayurveda offers several medications, external applications and a lifestyle regimen that could help you. The treatment will help get rid of excess fat, reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and prevent further fat deposits. The Ayurvedic approach includes the following.
- Consulting a practitioner to identify the cause of weight gain.
- Lifestyle modification - following a diet plan and exercise regimen.
- Having the causes of weight gain addressed (for instance, find out if hormonal imbalance is a cause).
- External therapies for burning fat and reducing cellulite.
- Internal medications to increase metabolic rate and deplete fat.
- Having therapies to prevent complications associated with excess weight and obesity (osteoarthritis, varicose veins, hypertension, diabetes and so on).
- You could also take 5-10 grams of Thriphala* as a supplement.
*Available at shops selling herbal products.
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