Comparative Clinical Evaluation of Guduchyadi Yog and Suryanamaskar in the Management of Sthaulya (Childhood Obesity): A Triple-arm Open-label Study

Introduction: In Ayurveda, Sthaulya is understood as a metabolic disorder with unique diagnostic and therapeutic principles. This condition, often paralleled with modern concepts of overweight and obesity, involves the abnormal or excessive accumulation of body fat. Numerous Ayurvedic texts describe Sthaulya , highlighting its multifaceted nature. This study clinically investigates the effectiveness of Guduchyadi Yog and Surya Namaskar in managing childhood obesity. Methodology: This triple-arm and open-label study enrolled 60 children diagnosed with Sthaulya . Participants were recruited from both outpatient and inpatient departments of the Kaumarbhritya Department at Dr. S. R. Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, and surrounding primary schools. They were randomly allocated into three groups of 20 subjects each. Group A received Guduchyadi Yog , Group B practiced Surya Namaskar , and Group C received a combination of Guduchyadi Yog and Surya Namaskar. Guduchyadi Yog dosage was determined using Young’s formula, adjusted for each patient’s age. The intervention period for all groups was 45 days. Results and Discussion: Statistical analysis revealed that Group C, which received the combined therapy of Guduchyadi Yog and Surya Namaskar , demonstrated significantly superior outcomes in both subjective and objective parameters of Sthaulya compared to Group A ( Guduchyadi Yog alone) and Group B ( Surya Namaskar alone). This suggests a synergistic effect of the combined intervention in managing childhood obesity. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the integrated approach of Guduchyadi Yog alongside Surya Namaskar offers a more effective therapeutic strategy for managing childhood obesity (Sthaulya) than either intervention used in isolation.