International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Background: -Overweight and obesity in school-going children have become significant public health concerns globally, often leading to physical and psychological issues. While conventional treatments focus on diet and exercise, interest is growing in alternative system such as homeopathy for managing childhood obesity. This study evaluated the role of individualized homeopathic medicine in managing overweight school-going children.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of individualized homeopathic medicine in managing overweight school-going children.

Material & Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, single-arm pre-post study was conducted at GHMC Bhopal, involving 30 overweight children (after 4 dropouts from 34 enrolled). Participants were recruited from OPD, health camps, and schools. Individualized homoeopathic treatment was prescribed after detailed clinical evaluation. The Paediatric Overweight Assessment Scale was used to assess physical and psychosocial parameters (e.g., weight-for-age%, self-esteem, snoring, fatigue, breathlessness) before and after treatment. Statistical analysis was done using a paired t-test to evaluate treatment effectiveness.

Results: According to the study, the most commonly affected age group was 12 to 15 years (57%), followed by 9 to 11 years (20%), 5 to 8 years (13%), and 16 to 18 years (10%). Among the participants, 17 were male and 13 females. Of the 30 cases, 25 were from urban areas and 5 from rural areas. Socioeconomic distribution showed that 23 participants belonged to the middle class, 4 to the upper class, and 3 to the lower class. Common risk factors identified were poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, increased screen time, disturbed sleep patterns, and psychological issues. Calcarea carbonica was the most frequently prescribed remedy (8 cases), followed by Antimonium crudum and Sulphur (4 each), Thuja, and Baryta carb. Treatment outcomes showed marked improvement in 7 cases (23.3%), moderate in 8 (26.6%), mild in 10 (33.3%), and no significant improvement in 5 cases (16.6%). A statistically significant improvement was observed in scores measured by the Paediatrics Overweight Assessment Scale before and after treatment (p < 0.05), supported by positive responses on the Likert scale.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that individualized homeopathic medicine appears to have a beneficial effect on managing overweight in school-going children, with improvements in both physical health and psychosocial well-being.