Multimodal Naturopathic Management of Class III Obesity in a Woman: A Case Report
B. Gayathri *
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alva's College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Mijar, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
A. N. Vineetha
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alva's College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Mijar, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
S. Swathi
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alva's College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Mijar, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Vanitha. S. Shetty
Department of Clinical Naturopathy, Alva's College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Mijar, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
K. V Swathi
Department of Clinical Yoga, Alva's College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Mijar, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial condition that can coexist with musculoskeletal symptoms, menstrual and metabolic disturbances and reduced physical activity. This case report describes a multimodal naturopathic management approach in a woman with class III obesity and associated back and knee pain.
Case Presentation: A 34-year-old woman presented to Alva’s Anandamaya Arogyadhama, Moodubidire, on 22 July 2026 with obesity of approximately 10 years’ duration, back pain for 6 months and knee pain for 8 months. She also had a documented history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) for approximately 1 year and a previous history of allergic asthma. Her baseline height was 159 cm and her weight were 115 kg, corresponding to a BMI of approximately 45.5 kg/m². Waist circumference was 129 cm and hip circumference 144 cm (waist-to-hip ratio approximately 0.90).
Intervention: The patient underwent an individualised naturopathic programme incorporating a therapeutic diet, supervised fasting and water-fasting periods, hydrotherapy and naturopathic applications, massage and reflexology, yoga practices and breathing exercises, along with physiotherapy for back and knee symptoms and selected complementary pressure-based procedures documented in the treatment records.
Outcomes: During the five documented assessments from 22 July to 18 August 2026 (28 calendar days inclusive), body weight decreased from 115 to 99 kg (16 kg; 13.91%), and calculated body mass index decreased from approximately 45.5 to 39.2 kg/m². Waist circumference decreased from 129 to 119 cm and hip circumference from 144 to 122 cm, although the calculated waist-to-hip ratio increased from 0.90 to 0.98. Random blood glucose measurements decreased from 156 to 122 mg/dL, while the recorded knee-pain visual analogue score decreased from 7/10 to 2/10. The endpoint hip circumference warrants source-record verification, and random glucose readings during fasting cannot establish sustained changes in glycaemic control.
Conclusion: This case documents the application of a multimodal naturopathic approach for an individual with class III obesity and associated musculoskeletal complaints. Because this is a single case without a control group and with incomplete standardised post-intervention laboratory measurements, the observed changes should be interpreted cautiously and cannot establish causality.
Keywords: Class III obesity, body mass index, naturopathy, therapeutic diet, water fasting, hydrotherapy, yoga, random blood glucose, anthropometry, musculoskeletal pain, case report