From Meda Dhatu to Adipose Tissue: Bridging Ayurvedic Concepts of Sthaulya with Modern Obesity Science

Obesity is a complex, chronic and multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by excessive or abnormal accumulation of body fat with significant consequences for physical and metabolic health. The World Health Organisation defines obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health; globally, more than one billion people were living with obesity in 2022. Modern science recognizes obesity as a consequence of complex interactions among energy intake, physical activity, genetic susceptibility, neurobiology, environmental influences and metabolic regulation. Ayurveda describes a comparable clinical entity primarily under the concepts of Sthaulya and Atisthaulya, in which excessive accumulation of Meda Dhatu is associated with characteristic bodily changes and reduced physical efficiency. Classical Ayurvedic descriptions emphasize Santarpana, excessive intake of Guru-Snigdha food, Avyayama, Divasvapna, impaired Agni, Meda accumulation and disturbance of Medovaha Srotas in the pathogenesis of Sthaulya. Modern adipose tissue, meanwhile, is recognized not merely as an energy-storage organ but as an active endocrine and immunological tissue involved in adipokine secretion, insulin sensitivity and chronic low-grade inflammation. The present review attempts to bridge the Ayurvedic concept of Meda Dhatu with the modern concept of adipose tissue and explores possible conceptual relationships among Meda Dhatu Vriddhi, Medodhatvagni, Agni, Medovaha Srotas, Santarpana and modern concepts such as adiposity, visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance and metabolic inflammation. Such correlation may provide a framework for developing standardized Ayurvedic diagnostic parameters for obesity and future integrative research.