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Anti-Obesity Day Achieving A Healthy Weight With Vijaya

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Obesity refers to the abnormal and excessive accumulation of fat in the body. A BMI greater than or equal to 25 implies that a person is overweight, while a 30 or higher BMI indicates obesity. 

As per the World Health Organization, in the past five decades, the global rates of obesity nearly tripled. The World Obesity Atlas, 2022, predicted that over one billion people worldwide will be living in obesity by the end of 2030. This includes close to one in five women and one in seven men.

What Causes Obesity?

The consumption of unhealthy, high-calorie, and energy-dense foods has increased manifold globally. This has caused a significant energy imbalance between the consumed and expended calories, leading to obesity or people being overweight. Moreover, rising urbanization, technological conveniences, and the sedentary nature of many forms of work and lifestyles have worsened the situation. 

Because of this, people consume a lot more calories than they burn through daily physical activities and exercise. In addition to that, there are various genetic, hormonal, and behavioral influences on the body that affect one’s weight. Some people tend to eat more due to anxiety or stress, often before they even feel hungry.

In some cases, underlying medical conditions can contribute to obesity, such as

  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland causing underproduction of the necessary hormones)
  • Cushing’s syndrome (over-production of steroid hormones)
  • Prader-Willi syndrome (a rare genetic condition)

The Health Consequences of Obesity

Obesity significantly increases the risk of various chronic and non-communicable health conditions, such as

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis)
  • Diabetes
  • Certain cancers (prostate, liver, kidney, colon, prostate, etc.)

As BMI increases, the risk of these diseases rises. Moreover, childhood obesity is associated with a higher risk of obesity, disability, and premature death in adulthood. Obese children may suffer from breathing issues, hypertension, early symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, a higher risk of fractures, psychological problems, etc.

Can Vijaya Help Reduce Excess Weight?

Various medical studies and clinical trials conducted over the years show that Vijaya presents incredible potential in helping people manage obesity and maintain a healthy weight

2021 study showed that Vijaya has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties making the herb an effective therapeutic solution for reducing and reversing inflammation and other symptoms associated with obesity. 

It further reported that patients consuming the hemp plant (both new and persistent users) tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who don’t.

Another study showed that, besides having a lower BMI, people consuming Vijaya showed less of an increase in weight compared to the ones who have never used the herb. Researchers say it could be because the hemp plant can modify how certain cells or receptors respond in the body, affecting weight gain.

In a review conducted by Indiana University, all the reviewed studies reported that users of the hemp plant had significantly lower BMI levels that lie in the healthy range (18.5-25). The magnitude BMI difference between the people consuming this herb and the non-consumers is of high clinical and statistical significance.

Another study reaffirmed this by reporting that people consuming Vijaya had the least incidences of obesity or being overweight.

How Do Cannabis-Based Medicines Approach Obesity?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is deeply involved in regulating the body’s metabolic processes and energy homeostasis, as well as in the development of conditions like obesity and other metabolic disorders. 

The cannabinoid receptors n the ECS primarily modulate the uptake, storage, and conservation of food and energy in the body. When activated, they control the taste and smell pathways and stimulate the appetite centers in the brain.

But consuming junk and processed foods containing high fat, sugar, and sodium levels, along with an elevated ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids, overstimulates these cannabinoid receptors and dysregulates the ECS function.

This causes higher appetite, palatability of food, and energy uptake, as well as decreased metabolism. As a result, it leads to increased rates of chronic conditions, including obesity, inflammation in the liver and kidneys, eating disorders like binge eating, and other cardio-metabolic risks.

On consumption, the cannabinoids in Vijaya and cannabis-based medicines bind with the ECS receptors, regulate their function, reduce overstimulation, and help balance their activity. The herb reduces the negative impact of unhealthy foods in the system and enhances digestion by activating the cannabinoid receptors of the gut.

The activated CB1 receptors of the ECS help reduce body weight and food intake. Whereas the CB2 receptors, when stimulated, limit inflammation. This is because they have a very high concentration in the immune system. Hence, they prevent the immune cells from releasing pro-inflammatory substances (cytokines and chemokines) and help suppress immune hyperactivity. 

Consequently, cannabis-based medicines promote anti-obesity effects in the body by activating both the CB1 and CB2 receptor types, without any adverse side effects on health, unlike conventional prescription pharmaceuticals. 

How to Use The Herb?

One can easily leverage the vast potential of Vijaya through Ayurvedic medicines like the Trailokya Vijaya Vati. With the hemp plant as its key ingredient, this herbal formulation exhibits a direct and quick action on the body to provide effective relief from various health conditions, including obesity and its different symptoms.

The formulation further helps mitigate the adverse side effects of conventional anti-obesity drugs and holistically improves the overall quality of life. Find out more about leveraging Vijaya for managing obesity and reducing excess weight by reaching out to Hempstreet and getting a personalized Ayurvedic treatment regime.

 

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6340377/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13679-012-0031-x

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163475/

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742#:~:text=Obesity%20is%20a%20complex%20disease,blood%20pressure%20and%20certain%20cancers.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/causes/#:~:text=Obesity%20is%20generally%20caused%20by,by%20the%20body%20as%20fat.

Hempstreet is India's first and largest research to retail player in the medicinal cannabis space with a network of 60,000 ayurvedic practitioners across the country.

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