Long office hours, driving everywhere, late dinners and summer heat that keeps people indoors make weight gain common in the UAE. Ayurveda does not treat weight as a calorie sum alone. It looks at digestion, sleep, stress and the balance of the doshas – especially Kapha – and builds habits you can keep.
How Ayurveda explains weight gain
In Ayurveda, steady healthy weight depends on strong digestive fire (Agni). When Agni is weak, food is not fully processed and Kapha and fat tissue (Meda) build up. Irregular meals, heavy food late at night, daytime sleeping and little movement are all seen as contributing factors.
What is Udvartana?
Udvartana is a brisk massage with dry herbal powders, applied upwards against the direction of hair growth. It is invigorating rather than relaxing, and in Ayurveda it is traditionally used to reduce Kapha, support circulation and leave the skin feeling lighter. It is usually followed by herbal steam. Udvartana supports a weight management plan – it is not a substitute for diet and activity.
Diet principles
- Eat your main meal at midday, when Ayurveda considers digestion strongest, and keep dinner light and early.
- Choose warm, freshly cooked food: vegetables, lentils, millets and moderate grains.
- Reduce sugary drinks, fried and processed food, and heavy dairy in the evening.
- Sip warm water through the day; ginger or cumin water is a traditional option.
- Avoid snacking between meals so digestion can rest.
Routine and movement
- Wake early and move daily – a brisk walk in a mall or on a treadmill counts in summer.
- Avoid sleeping during the day.
- Manage stress, which Ayurveda links with comfort eating.
- Add yoga or strength exercises suited to your level.
If you have diabetes or a thyroid condition
Keep taking your prescribed medicines and keep your regular check-ups. Bring recent blood reports so our doctors can plan safely alongside your physician. See Metabolic Disorders.
Frequently asked questions
How many Udvartana sessions are needed?
Courses of 7 to 14 sessions are common, combined with diet and activity changes.
Is Udvartana suitable for everyone?
It can be too drying for very thin people, people with very dry or sensitive skin, and during pregnancy. Our doctor will advise you.
Book in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
Ask about our lifestyle and weight management programme – see Lifestyle Disorders. Visit Dhathri Gram Ayurvedic Medical Center at Muhammed Abdullah Juma Al Qubaisi Building, Plot No. C189, Shabiya 12, Mussafah, or call 02 558 6608.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor before starting any treatment.
