सततं व्याधितावेतावतिस्थूलकृशौ नरौ| सततं चोपचर्यौ हि कर्शनैर्बृंहणैरपि ||१६||
Both these undesirable types of people (too obese and too lean) always suffer from some disease or the other and need to be constantly managed by bulk-reducing and bulk-promoting therapies respectively.
स्थौल्यकार्श्ये वरं कार्श्यं समोपकरणौ हि तौ| यद्युभौ व्याधिरागच्छेत् स्थूलमेवातिपीडयेत् ||१७||
Of the two, lean is less harmful than obese, and the physical and mental sufferings in the case of an obese person are far greater in comparison to a lean person .
सममांसप्रमाणस्तु समसंहननो नरः| दृढेन्द्रियो विकाराणां न बलेनाभिभूयते ||१८||
[The importance of ideal body proportion] A person with a balanced proportion of muscles and compactness of the body and firmness in sense organs is not overcome by the onslaught of disorders.
Such people can tolerate hunger, thirst, the heat of the sun, cold and physical exercise. Their digestion, assimilation of food and muscle metabolism is in a state of equilibrium.
गुरु चातर्पणं चेष्टं स्थूलानां कर्शनं प्रति| कृशानां बृंहणार्थं च लघु सन्तर्पणं च यत् ||२०||
[The best diet for obese and lean persons] Heavy and non-nourishing (diet) therapy are prescribed for slimming in the case of the too obese, while for promoting the bulk of the too lean light and nourishing therapy is prescribed.