Calling Obesity a Disease

A headline on my Yahoo homepage caught my attention: ‘I’m fat, and it’s my fault’—and other reactions to calling obesity a disease. Last week the American Medical Association (AMA) decided to classify obesity as a disease.  Some experts say the decision increases the chance that doctors and insurance companies could more effectively treat the 78 million adults and 12 million children in the United States with BMIs above 30.

Is obesity truly a disease?  Yahoo News asked obese Americans how they felt about this new classification.  Here are some quotes, but you can read the entire article here.

"The AMA's declaration is nothing more than a happy pill designed to make overweight people like myself shift the blame for our own bad habits."

"The AMA gets a big fat ‘F’ from me for their enabling declaration. If I want to change [my life], it's up to me. Over the last year, I made some lifestyle changes and have been keeping my weight under control, but I have more work to do."

"What will this new ‘disease’ designation mean? Will people avoid me, fearing my fat is contagious?"

"Is my obesity a ‘self-inflicted’ disease? I can pinpoint a number of factors: My father and his side of the family were all obese, meaning it is partially genetic. I have had limited access to healthy foods at times during my life that doubtlessly contributed. I suffered a crippling car accident that impeded my ability to be active for quite a while. And, yes, there's also just that I enjoy eating and haven't always made the best choices.”

She thus welcomes a change in how the country views obesity. “But other steps are needed,” she argues. “Education, individual action, and community support must be achieved as well. I am hoping that instead of pushing an agenda of diet drugs and surgeries, there will be more focus on treatments that include healthy eating and exercise.”

"Being obese has stripped me of my confidence and happiness.  I now suffer from anxiety and depression and avoid meeting new people or gathering with old friends. It is the number one challenge in my life, yet I cannot seem to conquer it."

"This leads to a second concern: The AMA insists this new information will encourage more pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs. I agree with them, but I don't see this as a positive thing. It adds to the growing number of health conditions that are treated in our country with pills and surgery. While there are people who genuinely need medications to overcome weight problems, I think we are already far too quick to prescribe drugs. This is especially concerning in the case of a health problem that, in many cases, is due at least in part to lifestyle choices. If you're already doing all you can to lose weight, that new pill might be a godsend. But our culture craves the quick fix, and far more people are going to demand the drug and make no accompanying lifestyle changes."

"I am a relatively healthy woman in her early 40s; however, I now have a disease solely based on my body mass index."

"However, people who chose an unhealthy lifestyle may see this as a way of justifying their choices because they have a 'disease.' "

I have been overweight, but my weight has never reached "obesity."  I do know that each time I have gained weight it was through careless eating and little to no exercise.  Each time I have lost weight it has been through diligent tracking of what I ate and upping my exercise.  It was all within my control, so I am only writing from that viewpoint.

I personally don't feel that obesity is a disease.  It does cause many health problems, but when weight is brought back under control, most of those health problems go away.  I have heard many Weight Watcher members talk about going off medications when they lost weight.  I am not for more drugs.  There is no quick fix, in my opinion.  It amazes me that we think we can gain weight over the course of 2-3 years, but think we should be able to lose it in 2-3 weeks.

What do you think?  Agree or disagree?