Obesity- a lifestyle disorder its impact on women’s health and its management

Abstract

Obesity is a term used to describe body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. It has become a serious public health problem. It affects 32.2% of the population. The worldwide prevalence of obesity is 1.6 billion and is reached epidemic proportions mostly in high income groups. Changes in dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles are known to be associated with changes in health and increased prevalence of chronic diseases. During the past decades efficacious strategies have been developed for prevention of these changes. These strategies involve general lifestyle changes, which include healthy diet, optimal weight, physical activity, no alcohol consumption. In the management strategies available therapies having its own side effects and Unani medicine plays an important role in the management of obesity. Number of herbs is documented in Unani classics to reduce weight which includes Lac (Luke-e-Maghsool), Muqil (Commiphora Mukul), Kharkhask (Ghokru-Tribulus Terrestris), Haldi (Turmeric- Curcuma Longa) and Zeera siya (Black cumin- Cuminum sativum) etc. These herbs are the most common traditional Unani medicines used for weight loss, but there is a need to explore the efficacy of these drugs in a scientific manner. This paper gives information on herbs and its mechanism of action for weight reduction.