The problem of overweight has emerged as a major health problem in the United States. Over half the above 20 population in the US is estimated to be overweight. The annual expenditure on weight loss programs is projected to cross $30 billion. At the same time, a sixth of the population of the world was facing chronic starvation and hunger. There are a number of weight loss program being promoted and tried out. They include physical exercises, shakes, dieting, specialized diet, drinks, pills, capsules, weight loss diet and surgeries.
But there has been a constant search for a more effortless way to lose weight. A natural product to suppress appetite has been always been on the look out by the overweight people. The story of Hoodia gordonii emerging from Africa created a lot of excitement for those who were looking out for an appetite suppressant.
The cultural and religious life of the African people abounds in traditional remedies. For instance, over 156 medicinal plant species are reported to be used in gynecological complaints. When corporations or other commercial initiatives takes freely the traditional knowledge without the consent of the owners of the knowledge and commercializes them into a product, it is called ‘biopiracy’. The South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) developed and subsequently patented Hoodia. CSIR sold the exclusive right to a British Company. After the issue of biopiracy was raised, a small percentage of the royalties was transferred to the trust on behalf of the San people. There is a proliferation of Hoodia products in the market such as Hoodia Pure, Dex L10 Hoodia Gordonii, HoodiThin Liquid and many more.
The indigenous peoples inhabit a habitat for generations and centuries interacting intensely with nature. They depend on nature for their livelihood as well for survival that they revere nature as the provider of life. From these interactions and observations, they learn about the characteristics of various species and possible uses. These are then verified through repeated experimentation or from repeated similar experiences. This knowledge is then transmitted onward to the next generation. The knowledge covers all aspects of life and living including crops, food, human and animal health and even beauty care.
Overweight is a big problem. It’s more than an issue of looking sexy because the health risks associated with obesity are much greater.
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