Charaka's take on obesity

Charaka's (Caraka) treatise the "Charaka Samhita" is a veritable treasure trove of information - some practical, some scientific, some religious, and some that is downright funny but overall it is a fantastic compilation of the ancient wisdom of traditional medicine called ayurveda. It is important to remember that his Charaka Samhita was written/compiled sometime during the Mauryan era (2nd or 3rd century BC) and is probably at least 3000 years old - The fact that this text is still relevant, and is still considered an authoritative textbook of ayurveda is testimony to the greatness of Charaka and his magnum opus the Charaka Samhita. This article looks briefly at Charaka's take on obesity and the key points that are relevant even today. The text in brackets are my addtions:

The obese face 8 major problems:

1. Shortened life-span
2. Difficulty in movement 
3. Difficulty during sexual intercourse
4. Fatigue/Constant tiredness (leading to reduced productivity)
5. Excessive sweating
6. Body odor
7. Ravenous and uncontrollable hunger (A symptom of diabetes)
8. Severe thirst  (A symptom of diabetes)

The obese accumulate fat preferentially in the region of the buttocks, hips, belly, and breasts/chest. According to Charaka, obesity is a "continuous illness" that drains the very life processes and energy of an individual. The primary aim of obesity treatment is to restore the balance between muscle and fat tissue in the body (We now know that muscle burns more calories than any other tissue).
Charaka recommends an austere and strict diet in combination with exercise (not very different from what is recommended by experts today) and certain herbs. A few important herbs (I have included only those that are commonly available and those that most of us can relate to easily) that Charaka recommends include: Guduchi (Giloi), Amla (Indian gooseberry), shunti (ginger), powdered barley, and honey.
Charaka also recommends increasing physical and mental activity, lengthening the waking hours, frequent oil massage, and rounding-off every meal with honey and water. For all those who enjoy their afternoon siesta, Charaka serves a strict warning - "Sleep during the day-time is prohibited as it "favors" obesity!"