Personally, I think that saying obesity can't be a disease because people are usually responsible for it is like saying that certain lung diseases can't be called diseases because they're primarily caused by smoking. Personal responsibility isn't something that should be considered when classifying something as a disease.

rcarter2 : You're right that classifying obesity as a disease may lead to different coverage in health care, meaning higher payments for everyone. That said, obesity causes all kinds of health problems that are covered either way. If it were possible to deal with the root of the problem, and deal with the obesity before it causes more health problems, we'd be better off.

Singelli :
It has been a few days since I saw this thread.
I have held back long enough I think.
So, ...

"George Carlin" once stated before passing on that any nations people "are owned". (Granted he was a bit of a "hippy" but...)

The massive need of the stars and media who are put in front of the camera consider weight to be an illness rather than a fact of life or ... (dun. da, DUNAAAAA.) age.
Should make anyone consider the facts as they are present.

If the few who are "privileged" can not figure out a way to manage their own bodies with only 2 to 4 hours of work a day? It must be "an epidemic" ???

Seriously. Greater Weight used to be a sign of good life or smart business practices. At the very least a person that enjoys cooking and can manage the finances around the "refrigerator bill". (My own term for monthly food intake.)

The fear of weight gain has grown so absurdly that no one mentions the phrase "Live Large" any longer. I have heard "Keep on trucking" more than "Live Large". (1970's terms vs 1990's terms?? 1970's More prevalent???)

It is almost as if someone designed an entire generation to be wiped from existence. (Though that's too much fun for one silly topic. So, I'll attempt to keep things simple.)

Money.

The people pimping drugs on the world, like "A.D.D." solution pills and so fourth, score about 4 billion a year.
The amount of book sales on weight and pills for weight control have ballooned exponetially to such a degree that the medical field has experts and procedures for managing it for the public???
Who on earth would go to school for seven strait years to manage weight when I could point them in a direction for a job that can melt those pounds off in a handful of months. ???
(Bonus: They can get paid for their troubles.)

Then there is the plastic surgery "Docs" that have lost a few bucks due to half the population of America being out of work???

"Follow the money".
It always leads to truth. No matter how ugly.

And...
Who recently decided to dip into the medical field as a requirement Tax on the population?
(Just a thought. Nothing more.)
Good Luck.

Good Luck To All.
I'm done. Stick a fork in me.
Peace.

*Took the concept of not sugar coating obesity way too far*

Ha, that is just stupid. It is not a disease. Well, it could be, I just think it should not be counted as one.
Brigand :   Wow man, that is harsh to all those fat people out there.

Wow, I am shocked, I thought it was just an eating disorder. It is now recognized as a disease. That is horrible and I find that shocking.

Brigand : Wow that is very nice to say haha, but I understand you completely, we rely on fast food, being lazy and letting technology do everything for us and run our life for us, it is the way of a typical american. That is why school lunches and physical fitness is horrible at most schools across the nation, because too many are overweight and they don't get the proper exercise to stay healthy. I agree with you 100% except the piece of lard, I am sorry if that is mean but I kind of laughed at that. America is just fat and lazy and that is all I have to say on the matter, and if we don't change soon, it will never get better and we will always be like this and pass it down to future generations and there will be a new lardo encoding in our dna to make us 85 pounds at birth. Pathetic

Brigand :  That comment was uncalled for, and I'd appreciate if you edited it out.  Please refrain from making such comments in the future.

rcarter2 : If he doesn't edit it, can you?  It's extremely offensive and against the no-flaming rules of the site.

rcarter2 : Good stuff here, thanks for the reply. Your quote:
"Most obese people I know see their size as good. We have made a society where you should 'be proud of your body' and everyone is supposed to 'accept and praise all body types'. Big guys are now 'cuddly' and 'big teddy bears'. Obese women are now vivacious, full figured, and got that 'va va voom'. They found ways to look at unhealthy as sexy just because they prefer to see their choice as fine rather than do something about it. No matter how you look at it, it is unhealthy. Plain and simple. "

You ABSOLUTELY NAILED IT with this. The way I present weight loss to patients is "here's x, y, and z that can happen with being overweight even though you can't actually feel anything going on". That's what makes this tough. People can't (usually) feel their cholesterol being high, so they see no reason to do anything about it.

The reason I asked for your opinion is to contrast general outlook to attitude of many of the patients I've had. And you're correct I do have a bunch that do not want to consider losing weight because "it's who I am" and can even get offended when I quote them their BMI to show that they fall under the medical definition of obese. Conversely, I have plenty who don't eat healthy because it's frankly expensive to eat healthy. I worked mostly in an urban hospital that's not located in the best of areas, and constantly I had people tell me instead of spending $5-7 a meal per person to feed them, it's easier and cheaper to just get a couple burgers off of McDonald's dollar menu.

You brought up a good point with the gym memberships, and that's actually something I hope does happen. I'd rather my taxes help pay for a $10/month fee instead of the $10,000+ to $100,000 involved in multiple doctor visits (Family doc, Cardiologist, Nephrologist, Ophthalmologist, etc...) and paying for their medications and their surgeries down the line (amputation after diabetic fool ulcer, knee replacements, cardiac stress tests, angioplasty, Heart bypass) This is one of the main goals behind the "disease" classification, to make people like me to better counsel our patients, and to better supplement preventative care so that these people do see why losing weight is so important. By paying more in the beginning, the rationale is the country as a whole will save billions down the line and some social security money will still be there when we retire way down the line.

Thanks for the reply.

mikez913 : I have no doubt that the intention and goal of it is great. I have no problem paying more for something like that. Unfortunately, this also heavily relies on assuming that people will actually take the responsibility upon themselves. They can give doctors as much ability to guide their patients on the road to recovery, but it boils down to the patient's willingness to do it. Though I don't like pessimism for myself, I just don't have faith in the people to do it. Kind of like alcoholism. That being labeled a disease hasn't made huge dents in the condition. Hopefully I am shown wrong. I hope that I am. I have no issues with paying more in tax (or insurance in this case) for good things. I have always been a fan of Universal Healthcare even if that does mean higher taxes. Just for now, I am being pessimistic.

Obesity is NOT a disease. Except for the (very) few people that have genetic/hormonal problems, it is entirely controllable.

The main problem, however, comes from faulty information people get. Grain is NOT essential to you life, and fat (non trans, of course) is.

I have been officially warned so I would like to say also that I am sorry. Perhaps my harsh words were uncalled for. Too much spice, not enough sugar.

Well so many people have it but unlike all the other diseases there is one minor difference that diseases don't have and that is a option.

Well, if it's a disease, then it's the easiest disease to cure. Eat well and exercise every day. That's it. But still, it's pretty pathetic that obesity is being classified as a disease. As if it's not the person's fault. Oh, excuse me, I'm just going to have another bag of Lay's. What's that? Oh no, my obesity's a DISEASE. Sheesh.

orionfoxgibson :

I understand where you are coming from, but we are not talking about "rounder" or "plump" people. We are talking about obese. Let me show you the difference between overweight and obese:

Overweight

Obese:


Regardless that we are constantly forced to believe that we have to be thin, and then are sold tons of diet pills, diet books, seaweed wraps, exercise balls, and whatever... it is very unhealthy to be obese. In my line of work, I see countless people need knee replacements, and it is very very rare that they are in the "normal" weight category. Obesity is hard on your heart, joints, lungs, and digestive tract to name but a few.

As you put on weight, your life expectancy actually decreases.

A lie almost just as prevalent as the fact that you need to be skinny to live happily, is that size doesn't matter. It does, at least from your health's perspective. In fact, contrary to the popular believe that very skinny people are "unhealthy", most research is showing that the best life expectancy is found in the low 20s in BMI.

Yes it's true, businesses are loving milking the "Skinny" ideal, but it doesn't change the fact that being obese does have many many negative symptoms.

Light Knight :
I have never seen that before.
My goodness. That is a problem.
Wow. You changed my life.
"Moderators" are useful for something after all.
Good Luck.

Good Luck To All.
I'm done. Stick a fork in me.
Peace.

austipokedude : Though I don't like obesity being called a disease, there are holes in your logic. Particularly saying it isn't a disease because you can't pass obesity to other people. Being contagious is not part of something being a disease. You can't pass heart disease to other people. You can't pass lung disease to other people. You can't pass cancer to other people. But those are diseases. Obesity not being contagious is not really a legit argument.

rcarter2 :
I can almost agree with you. But to a point.
A person being Over weight is not a disease (that is absurd) but rather an encouraged problem.
Terminology or no.
It does not produce any solution.
Just look in your average grocery store.
Check the "stats" on the the back of the food items labels that are available.
(No, I do not empathise at all. Just saying. And wait for the pay off too when I'm done. Thank you.)
There is not enough protein or vitamins or fiber in anything to balance out the fat, sodium, carbs (no, do not avoid carbs. Just balance them people) and other items that encourage the development of a useless body.

Granted there are less tasks for the average person than in the past by comparison but honestly??
My grandparents never needed vitamin suppliments, or dietary regulators, or muscle growth Protein shakes to maintain a healthy body when they were my age.

Why do we have to buy those things separate from our standard meal items out of the grocery store today? Or watch the labels with a "Hawks eye"?

I am telling you this because It is not too hard an issue to solve.
Plus I have an odd theory on the matter but that is for another occasion.
(Like why do we all have to only go to school for one job and be devoted to one job only while everyone before us could do 3 jobs bare minimum?)
Again.
That is for another day.
Today I am here for the recreation.
And like I said before.
I almost agree with you. Almost.
Well I'm done with this topic for a the day.
Good Luck To All.
I'm done. Stick a fork in me.
Peace.

orionfoxgibson : I am just a little confused on your second sentence when you said "Overweight is not a disease (that is absurd)". Was that saying that it not being a disease is absurd or labeling it as a disease is absurd?

rcarter2 :
The term disease was employed as a simple solution to grab peoples attention. (I hope. Originally.)
Like Shouting "Fire" when a different crime is taking place. For example. (Glad someone focused on the small details.)
But...

Being dismissive of one person or a second saying it is beyond wrong is a "tad" much. (I'd like to think.)

I just think that if a clearer set of words were provided.
Rather than being purely dismissive. (Witch you are not.)

A light at the end of the tunnel might come in view.

I agree with a bit of your respect to the medical community to label Obesity in an odd manner.
But I do not agree with the dismissive nature you tend to pose on others discussion points. (Like having an ace up your sleeve or something. When it comes to talk? It feels cheap dude.)

"Terminology or no." (Again.)

We have gone no where. (Common dude. You seem like a "Captain Kirk" Fan.)
But.
Good Times and Good laughs. (hope someone had fun.)
Good Luck.
Peace.

orionfoxgibson : Oh. I am getting the impression you think I am for calling obesity a disease. I am not. I was just informing austipoke that just saying it isn't contagious is not really a valid reason for why it is not a disease. That is all. Which point was I being dismissive with? I think you are getting the wrong impression of what i said. 

The think the term "Disease" is a bit much, but obesity is a genetic disorder which some people suffer from.

Faith