AMA: Obesity is a disease
Apparently, the AMA (American medical association) has now declared obesity to be a disease.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/business/ama-recognizes-obesity-as-a-disease.html?_r=0
I'm not really a fan of the medicalization of things like this.
And I tend to think that a little bit of stigma is probably a good thing...
"A reason often given for making the declaration is that it would help remove the stigma that obesity is a result of eating too much or exercising too little."
But what do you think about this decision?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/business/ama-recognizes-obesity-as-a-disease.html?_r=0
I'm not really a fan of the medicalization of things like this.
And I tend to think that a little bit of stigma is probably a good thing...
"A reason often given for making the declaration is that it would help remove the stigma that obesity is a result of eating too much or exercising too little."
But what do you think about this decision?
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Replies
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The definition of a disease is too lax, thus being easily manipulated you can make it cover any unsavory condition connected to humanity. After all even Merriam-Webster is non specific essentially saying it is 2) a condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, Essentially one could argue that because over eating leads to health conditions that affect the human body, it is a disease.
Personally I think it's just another way to charge more money to people with health plans, which is now going to be everybody in the USA, therefore promoting more income. Smokers and obese people, I am sure us people that are alcoholics (determined by drinks a week) will be next.
Follow the money. ^_^ 0 -
Declaring it a disease might help some people. Those that are depressed and feeling worthless might find some solace in the disease classification. It could actually help them tackle it, if they view diseases as being something they can overcome. It makes it almost tangible rather than, "oh, I'm just a worthless blah blah blah that can't stop eating. I might as well give up and go eat an entire cake."
I've known more women to think that way. So as a guy, Juddd, it could be a foreign way of thinking for you.0 -
Personally I think it's just another way to charge more money to people with health plans, which is now going to be everybody in the USA, therefore promoting more income. Smokers and obese people, I am sure us people that are alcoholics (determined by drinks a week) will be next. Follow the money. ^_^
Pretty much. If you have X disease, it's easier for insurance to charge higher rates. I don't know if they can still deny coverage, but if they can... this gives them another way to do so.0 -
Good I hope that's true now maybe we can start looking at preventative measures and actual solid treatment to treat a disease with such high recidivism and mortality.0
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Personally I think it's just another way to charge more money to people with health plans, which is now going to be everybody in the USA, therefore promoting more income. Smokers and obese people, I am sure us people that are alcoholics (determined by drinks a week) will be next. Follow the money. ^_^
Pretty much. If you have X disease, it's easier for insurance to charge higher rates. I don't know if they can still deny coverage, but if they can... this gives them another way to do so.
They already do that without the "diagnosis." Many insurance providers offer increased rates for people with BMI > 30
My opinion is that this is nonsense. Obesity is a SYMPTOM of a problem not a disease in and of itself. Also, I think citing it as a disease is a copout. In most cases, it's preventable and treatable with lifestyle changes. If it's not, then it's an indicator of some other problem that requires medical treatment. I can see how some would make this yet another excuse for their poor condition. Why admit that you ate yourself obese when you can just say, "Oh, I'm diseased! It's not my fault."0 -
^What she said. Obesity in 99.9999999% of cases is preventable through parents educating their children and living a healthy lifestyle.0
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Personally I think it's just another way to charge more money to people with health plans, which is now going to be everybody in the USA, therefore promoting more income. Smokers and obese people, I am sure us people that are alcoholics (determined by drinks a week) will be next. Follow the money. ^_^
Pretty much. If you have X disease, it's easier for insurance to charge higher rates. I don't know if they can still deny coverage, but if they can... this gives them another way to do so.
They already do that without the "diagnosis." Many insurance providers offer increased rates for people with BMI > 30
My opinion is that this is nonsense. Obesity is a SYMPTOM of a problem not a disease in and of itself. Also, I think citing it as a disease is a copout. In most cases, it's preventable and treatable with lifestyle changes. If it's not, then it's an indicator of some other problem that requires medical treatment. I can see how some would make this yet another excuse for their poor condition. Why admit that you ate yourself obese when you can just say, "Oh, I'm diseased! It's not my fault."
Agreed! Obesity can be a sign that something is severely wrong with your body, especially the endocrine system. Hypothyroidism has unexpected, and rapid weight gain/obesity as one of it's symptoms. Classifying obesity as a disease can be a problem because now some doctors will only look to treat the obesity and not look for the true, underlying cause of the obesity.0 -
So I can get disability for not exercising? :drinker:0
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Oh good. Another excuse for why someone can't help him/herself . . .
We continue to build a society in which it's perfectly acceptable to blame someone else for every one of our failings, and any voicing of an observation of those failings can be labeled as bullying or hate. Here's to the burning of Rome. :drinker:
Okay, yea, that was melodramatic but it's not that far off.0 -
nope. You cant pop pills and make obesity go away. Its not a disease.0
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There isn't one condition of life the APA/AMA refuses to diagnose. Blarg.0
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Lol@ obesity not being caused by overeating.0
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I agree that obesity is a disease. A disease is an abnormal condition that affects the body. Its abnormal to punish your body. Do we want to punish our body ? No we don't, but we do. I myself believe, and some will agree, eating right and exercise works to battle the problem for awhile and then you get burned out and gain a lot back. You know what's right but you just can't help it. That's where I believe the abnormality sets in. The cure is you, life style change and someone to help support your fight.0
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I agree that obesity is a disease. A disease is an abnormal condition that affects the body. Its abnormal to punish your body. Do we want to punish our body ? No we don't, but we do. I myself believe, and some will agree, eating right and exercise works to battle the problem for awhile and then you get burned out and gain a lot back. You know what's right but you just can't help it. That's where I believe the abnormality sets in. The cure is you, life style change and someone to help support your fight.
It is not an abnormal condition. It is your body storing energy from overeating. Obesity is a behavioral problem.0 -
I agree weird! And the baldness looks good on you
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This is just sad. I certainly agree that obesity is an epidemic, but classifying it as a disease will probably hinder more than help.
I personally think that it will reinforce the redirection of blame and lack of responsibility being taken by those who are obese, for example it's easier to say "I have a disease", than "I eat too much, don't exercise enough and that's why I have this issue". Being able to lay blame with something other than your own attitude and poor habits makes it easier to not do anything to fix the issue, because it's not your fault right? It's a disease!0 -
I agree that obesity is a disease. A disease is an abnormal condition that affects the body. Its abnormal to punish your body. Do we want to punish our body ? No we don't, but we do. I myself believe, and some will agree, eating right and exercise works to battle the problem for awhile and then you get burned out and gain a lot back. You know what's right but you just can't help it. That's where I believe the abnormality sets in. The cure is you, life style change and someone to help support your fight.
So, because someone doesn't have willpower, we should call obesity a disease.
Really?0 -
nope. You cant pop pills and make obesity go away. Its not a disease.
Just like you can't pop a pill and make HIV go away, so that is not a disease either?
Not sure how I feel about this subject actually, just that line literally made me LOL0 -
By this thought any habit forming drug, or life style can be called a disease. NascAr drivers could be classified as having a disease for driving to fast and constantly putting themselves in harms way. (Going by the idea that it is abnormal to punish the body).I agree that obesity is a disease. A disease is an abnormal condition that affects the body. Its abnormal to punish your body. Do we want to punish our body ? No we don't, but we do. I myself believe, and some will agree, eating right and exercise works to battle the problem for awhile and then you get burned out and gain a lot back. You know what's right but you just can't help it. That's where I believe the abnormality sets in. The cure is you, life style change and someone to help support your fight.
So, because someone doesn't have willpower, we should call obesity a disease.
Really?
As for the reply that they already charge for obesity, yes, and now they can charge more and those that do not charge have a reason. Imagine the coat of insurance when you have a "disease" As opposed to just being "overweight".
Perhaps I am just paranoid, after all people would never do something simply for financial gain.
Edit. Typing on cell and keep having typos haha.0 -
Oh good. Another excuse for why someone can't help him/herself . . .
We continue to build a society in which it's perfectly acceptable to blame someone else for every one of our failings, and any voicing of an observation of those failings can be labeled as bullying or hate. Here's to the burning of Rome. :drinker:
Okay, yea, that was melodramatic but it's not that far off.
^^ This.0 -
Obesity is a disease in the sense that mercury poisoning is a disease. Just like historic "let's put radium/mercury/lead in everything" epidemics of the past, obesity is an epidemic of modern wealthy nations. Manufactured foods (vs natural foods) cost less, have more calories, are more convenient, and are engineered to be addictive. Just as before, the individual cure is to stop taking what kills them (in this case, eat in moderation, count calories), and if we want there to be a global cure, we as a culture need to stop producing products that encourage the destructive behavior. However, I would expect in this case most people would rather continue the epidemic rather than eliminate the option of eating addictive, overprocessed foods.0
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Personally I think it's just another way to charge more money to people with health plans, which is now going to be everybody in the USA, therefore promoting more income. Smokers and obese people, I am sure us people that are alcoholics (determined by drinks a week) will be next. Follow the money. ^_^
Alcoholism is already considered a disease, however, smoking is not, but who knows, that could be next.
I think there is potential for both good and bad outcomes.
The Good: if classfying obesity as a disease allows more focus on preventative measures and allows for comprehensive and multi-faceted treatment include therapy, nutirtion education and physical therapy (and/or personal training) then it is great.
The Bad: some people may feel even less accountable for their condition, because it's a disease, which implies it's outside their control. Also, as was mentioned on the news this morning, it might be just another way to give companies a the green light to keep pushing products and medication at people without actually targeting the root of the problem. Finally, if it is another reason for insurers to deny converage, that is very scary, especially since 1/3 of americans are obese (according to the stats I hear this morning).0 -
I don't think it should be labelled as a disease as such... but I do think that the resulting health issues should be addressed. Someone posted this article a while back which I found very thought provoking:
http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/march/1361848247/karen-hitchcock/fat-city0 -
"A reason often given for making the declaration is that it would help remove the stigma that obesity is a result of eating too much or exercising too little."
OMG, my head is going to explode.
Obesity is almost ALWAYS a result of eating too much or exercising too little, usually a combination of both. Pretending that's not true doesn't actually make it not true. You don't have a disease (yet). You're freaking lazy!0 -
This just makes it possible for it to be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.0
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Good I hope that's true now maybe we can start looking at preventative measures and actual solid treatment to treat a disease with such high recidivism and mortality.
"Preventative measures and solid treatments" like what? What can possibly be done to stop someone from opening their mouth and shoving food into it? Do you think you can force someone to exercise? Force them to eat healthy? The only thing this is going to do is make the excuses easier. "Oh yeah. I need the scooter to get around on because I have a disease. It's called obesity." Or allow the government to raise taxes on certain foods and/or eliminate foods like they tried to do in NY. It's ridiculous! Fast food isn't the problem. Big Gulps isn't the problem. Junk food isn't the problem! The problem is people not taking responsibility for their own issue. I have a friend who has started going to the gym with my husband and I this week. She is up early and meets us there at 5:30 in the morning to do a 90 minute workout that I came up with for her. Why is she doing this? Because she gained weight and is unhappy with herself and is TAKING RESPONSIBILITY and DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
Yes obesity is preventative but calling it a "disease" isn't going to make any difference.0 -
If Obesity was a disease, it would of been an issue 20-40 years ago... as technology and comfort has increased so has Obesity.. coincidence? I really doubt it.. People are getting lazier and food choices are getting worse. Also if its a disease, why does it only seem to be a problem in a few of the 1st world countries?0
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Dear Ms. JustJennie1,
It is a mistake to assume that just because something is a disease that it automatically removes so called personal responsible... At least that is the case with men... With men, there is no excuse for us being fat...
But, you forget that having to bare children is not easy at all...
Finally, Ms. JustJennie1, I am not putting you down or insulting you... I just have a different opinion...0 -
Dear Ms. JustJennie1,
It is a mistake to assume that just because something is a disease that it automatically removes so called personal responsible... At least that is the case with men... With men, there is no excuse for us being fat...
But, you forget that having to bare children is not easy at all...
Finally, Ms. JustJennie1, I am not putting you down or insulting you... I just have a different opinion...
:huh: Not quite sure what you're saying here.
And I am saying that it will add to the excuses people now give for being obese. The "It's my genes" "I have a slow metabolism" "I'm big boned" will now turn into "Well I was just diagnosed with obesity."0 -
This may sound harsh...but is it neccesarily wrong that obese people be charged more for health care? Just like alcoholism, smoking, drug abuse, most of the time obesity is the result of a choice to be excessive in eating and ignoring healthy habits. If you make the choice to eat too much, maybe its acceptable that you be charged more for health care.0
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