Obesity now Recognized as a Disease in the US

[Devils'Advocate]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/...sease-ama.html

In order to fight what it described as an "obesity epidemic," the American Medical Association has voted to recognize obesity as a disease and recommended a number of measures to fight it.

I'm reading the comments below the article and I just want to throw my monitor against the wall. The absolute ignorance and arrogance of those that have never had to battle a weight issue just infuriates me to no end.

[CaptainYooh]

The problem with this recognition is in the costs of obesity-related disability and sickness benefits for the employers and Government (insurance companies too, but that would be passed onto employers).

It is difficult to fight obesity, when every second commercial on TV is for junk food. Plus, better quality foods cost more than junk; thus, making choosing quantity over quality easier. Mandatory one hour every day of physical education at schools and colleges would go long way to reduce this problem.

[puckluck2]

Obesity a disease? Yeah, ok. It's called taking care of yourself. Sure, some people can be naturally skinny without much work but if you eat right and exercise you'll be fine.

To the OP: weren't you overweight and then changed your lifestyle and lost a bunch of weight? So you cured your disease by eating right and exercising? Unless I'm missing something I'm not sure how you could think you had a disease.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Obesity a disease? Yeah, ok. It's called taking care of yourself. Sure, some people can be naturally skinny without much work but if you eat right and exercise you'll be fine.

To the OP: weren't you overweight and then changed your lifestyle and lost a bunch of weight? So you cured your disease by eating right and exercising? Unless I'm missing something I'm not sure how you could think you had a disease.

Do you know what a disease is?

[Regorium]

Sigh.

[SebC]

Sorry fat people, you're actually not "fine the way you are".

[Caged Great]

This will actually help lessen the health care costs overall as you will be preventing a ton of things from Diabetes, Heart Disease, and a whole host of other things (joint replacements etc.)

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

The problem with this recognition is in the costs of obesity-related disability and sickness benefits for the employers and Government (insurance companies too, but that would be passed onto employers).

It is difficult to fight obesity, when every second commercial on TV is for junk food. Plus, better quality foods cost more than junk; thus, making choosing quantity over quality easier. Mandatory one hour every day of physical education at schools and colleges would go long way to reduce this problem.

doesn't make it any better when the people with food stamps ebt cards can now use them at gas stations and crap places for junk food.

it's sad because instead of having a 16oz ribeye, loaded baked potato and a large beer they could have a 9 oz steak and just a baked potato but noooooo they have to have those other 7 oz's and waste half of their potato.

portion sizes here are stupid

[Regulator75]

[PIMking]

it's all about money, the drug companies can make drugs, the dr's can diagnose another thing and insurance companies can rake it in too

money money money

[GGG]

I dont understand how this changes anything. Even from a insurance standpoint you could go on disabiity for being overweight if it comprimised your ability to do your job. You can get a handicapped parking spot because of decreased mobility for being obese regardless of if it is a disease. None of thus changes

All of the actions being recomended by the ama, doctors discussing obeisity with their patients and education about obeisity ahould already be ocurring.

Maybe from a psychological standpoint it makes it easier for people to get help because they can admit they have a disease on the other hand it might make it easier for some to use it as an excuse.

Put me under the dont care stand point.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

The problem with this recognition is in the costs of obesity-related disability and sickness benefits for the employers and Government (insurance companies too, but that would be passed onto employers).

Wow, it doesn't look like you can claim disability for it yet but holy poop - can you imagine the cost of that? More than a third of the population?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by PIMking

it's all about money, the drug companies can make drugs, the dr's can diagnose another thing and insurance companies can rake it in too

money money money

But reducing obeisity will save health care dollars. Tresting the result of obeisity is way more profitable then working to prevent it.

[Joborule]

Disease? It's something that can be easily prevented, and 'treated' for the great majority of people that are considered overweight. It wasn't tough luck that you got too big. It's hard to fix, but it's not something that you need medication or special treatment to address. You've naturally made yourself overweight. You can naturally remove that weight.

People need to put more blame and pressure on themselves rather than outside influences. Otherwise they won't be able to address their issues.

[sarge]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SesbcXSEvU8

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Do you know what a disease is?

Well considering they just NOW are calling obesity a disease I think it's a pretty grey area regarding obesity.

[ResAlien]

So if obesity is the result of overeating wouldn't overeating be the disease and obesity the result of the disease or am I misunderstanding? Is it a semantics thing? I don't get why it would be classified as a disease.

[Derek Sutton]

There was a great discussion about this on the radio today. Obesity is the symptom' the disease could be one of many things. And the biggest problem, unlike any other addiction or habit is that you HAVE to eat, you can't just quit. Obesity is lifestyle.

The other problem is how obvious it is. You can't look at someone and say they are an alcoholic or they cheat on their wife or have a gambling problem, but as soon as you enter the room you know who is too heavy or obese. Food is an out for a lot of heavy people. Some people turn to alcohol or drugs, some take it out on their family, healthier people turn to fitness and exercise, a lot turn to food.

To say it is expensive to eat healthy is not true, produce is very cheap, fruit juice is the same price as cola, it just doesn't taste as good to eat healthy. It takes meal planning and self discipline, and it is not easy. Blaming the media and the marketing of junk food is just a scapegoat to me.

[drPepper1]

Should this also be considered a disease?

Spoiler!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Well considering they just NOW are calling obesity a disease I think it's a pretty grey area regarding obesity.

A disease is simply an abnormal condition that affects the body with specific symptoms and signs.

AMA recognizing it is merely stating that it's a condition worth treating. There's nothing about obesity that would exclude it from the definition. Addiction has been a disease recognized by the AMA for some time and it fails your definition too