Life Style Management of Pediatric Obesity based on Traditional Persian Medicine: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases in children. Considering the widespread pandemic of pediatric obesity, developing more strategies for life style management of this disorder is essential. Therefore it was decided to conduct a more comprehensive study for prevention and treatment children obesity based on Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). In this review we searched the most important TPM textbooks (such as Al-Havi, Al-qanun fit-tib, Kamel al Sanaeh), Classical Medicine (CM) text book (Krause's Food and the Nutrition Care Process), and scientific databases such as Data sources included (Medline, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar) the period from 2000 to 2017 in terms of obesity management. The keywords Saman Mofrat, Setteh-e-Zarurieah, lifestyle, pediatric, children and obesity have been used in this search. Based on TPM the six essential principles (Setteh-e-Zarurieah) must be observed in management of pediatric obesity that these essential factors are as follows: air, food and drink, sleep and wakefulness, evacuation and retention, body movement, mental movement and repose. Unhealthy lifestyle for example irregular sleep, constipation, overeating and wrong nutritional habits, insufficient physical activity, and emotional excitement, such as sadness and anxiety are plays an important role in obesity that confirmed by classical medicine. Moreover, TPM has a particular attention to the type of nutrients and their temperament and the children’s digestion ability. So, further clinical trials should be performed to confirm the long-term efficacy of healthy lifestyle in pediatric obesity management.