An Open Label Three Arm Controlled on the Effect of Udvarttana and Abdominal Pack in Central Obesity

Abstract

Background: Obesity occupies first place among non-communicable diseases creating an enormous socioeconomic and public health burden in most of the countries. Body fat distribution, especially visceral adipose tissue accumulation, has been found to be a major correlate of a cluster of diabetogenic and atherogenic abnormalities that comes under the metabolic syndrome. Sthoulya is the nearest clinical entity in Ayurveda comparable to obesity. The treatment modality recommended for sthoulya is Langhana, Atarpana, Rookshana. Udvarttana, a procedure which gives rookshana with kapha medo samana   is usually applied in sthoulya. In Naturopathy, exposure of cold increases metabolic reaction and is effectively used in obesity. Aim: The present study was made to evaluate the combined effect of Udvarttana and Abdominal pack together to manage the central obesity. Study design: Open label three arm-controlled study. Materials and Methods: Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups (N= 60) and clinical study was conducted. Group 1(N=20) patients were given Sthaanika Udvarttana with Triphala Churna. Duration- 20 min. Group 2(N=20) patients were given Udvarttana with Triphala Churna and Abdominal pack. Duration -20 min Udvarttana and 30 min for Abdominal pack. Group 3(N=20) patients and all the patients were given diet restriction (14 days). The findings were recorded and, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with POST HOC TUKEY HSD was used to find the Significance between the groups. Results: By analysing the data, there was significant change in all assessment criteria’s (waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, abdominal skinfold measurement) of Group 2 while comparing with the means of other two groups i.e. Group 1 and Group 3. Conclusion: The combined treatment of Udvarttana with abdominal pack showed better results than Udvarttana alone or diet restrictions alone. Udvarttana along with Abdominal pack proves to be an effective remedial measure for central obesity.