Homoeopathy and Obesity A study based on BMI evidence

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineBackground: Obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition in which excess body fat may put a person at health risk. Increasing evidence suggests that obesity is not a simple problem of will power or self-control but a complex disorder involving appetite regulation and energy metabolism that is associated with a variety of comorbid conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of homoeopathic medicines in cases of obesity so to provide an cost effective side effect free treatment modality to obese patients. newlineObjectives: newline1. To assess reduction in weight in patients of obesity receiving Homoeopathic medicines by comparing weight in kilograms pre and post treatment. newline2. To assess reduction in weight in patients of obesity receiving Placebo by comparing weight in kilograms pre and post treatment. newline3. To assess reduction in BMI in patients of obesity receiving Homoeopathic medicines by comparing pre and post treatment BMI in kgs/ cms2. newline4. To assess reduction in BMI in patients of obesity receiving placebo by comparing pre and post treatment BMI in kgs/ cms2. newline5. To compare post treatment BMI score of both groups. newlineStudy Design: Prospective Randomized controlled Study newlineMethods: 60 cases of obesity with BMI lt35 of age group 30-50 of both gender were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups after excluding 5 drop out cases. In Group A (n=30 cases), homoeopathic individualized medicine was selected on totality basis. In Group B (n=30 cases), placebo was prescribed. Assessment at baseline and reassessment after 3 months was done using BMI score. newlineResults: Obesity was found more common in the middle age 30-45 yrs, females were found to be more affected than males. Housewives and positive family history were other important observations. There was a significant difference in the scores for BMI of patient receiving homoeopathic medicine (M=27.76, SD=3.1806) and newlineii newlineBMI of patient receiving placebo (M=29.5, SD=3.6554) conditions; t (58) = -1.95934, p = .054885. These results suggest that there was no stat