Should Obesity Be Classed As A Disease?

[Deskdiary]

It has been suggested that obesity should be considered a disease.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/03/obesity-should-classed-disease-doctors-say/

How would describing 'normal' fat people (i.e, ignoring those who are fat because of an underlying medical condition) as a victim of a disease help them? I suspect it will simply provide the fatties with an excuse for their size? "My obesity is a disease and therefore it's not my fault"

Should smokers be described have having a disease? If not, why not? I see no difference between a compulsion to smoke and a compulsion to shove food down the neck.

[Rockrose]

I never used to look in the mirror, my makeup was put on with a tiny compact and I used the same compact to do my hair. I hated what I saw but was beyond the normal dieting

[ChillDoubt]

As I said.....I rest my case.
It’s the same excuses GP’s and Practice Nurses/Dieticians the length and breadth of the country hear every day.

[Rockrose]

Also, obesity is an eating disorder and I have been at both ends of the scales 6 stone as a 15 year old 32 stone as a 44 year old.
Obesity is not all about what you shove in your mouth and it deserves help.

[ChillDoubt]

Pretty much spot on:



And yes, I was in exactly the same position so I’ve got no excuses either.

[Sqad]

Dunitall

"However although known about from the 1940's very little research was done on it and even today a lot of doctors and clinicians haven't heard of it and so not much is done for those who encounter these medics! "

You are incorrect here, in that in the last half century much research has been done and is still being done on the Inborn Errors of Fat metabolism and there are well over 200 syndromes that have been described.
The problem is, that they are so rare that it is unlikely that doctors will ever see a case in their entire medical life and when seen are worthy of reporting to a reputable medical journal.

[Rockrose]

Oh chilldoubt to be such a perfect specimen

[Ryzen]

Chill....the worrying thing is...many NHS staff seem to suffer from 'overactive knife and fork' syndrome!

[ummmm]

I don't know anyone, in person, who has made an excuse for being overweight. They aren't stupid. Everyone knows how you put weight weight on, everyone knows how to lose it, it's just not that simple when you use food to cope.

[pastafreak]

It was said earlier, by Naomi I think, that the obese are not ignorant, and that there is plenty of information out there. I'd argue that most people are ignorant and often not interested in current ideas on nutrition. If they are interested, making sense of information and finding what works for them can be daunting.

[ChillDoubt]

Oh chilldoubt to be such a perfect specimen
——————
Look at my Ricky Gervais post footnote.
And I’m still overweight by the way.....I just don’t make excuses.

[dunnitall]

Pasta no it's not Lymphoedema I'm thinking of, it's definitely Lipoedema and this is the problem some medics have where they say the same. I can assure you I know this condition off by heart....and it took the medics 60 years...yes really... to diagnosis it for that person!!

[pastafreak]

Thanks for that correction, dunnitall. For all I know that may be what this lady said she had. I can see where the confusion can arise.

[retrocop]

Pastafreak
// I'd argue that most people are ignorant and often not interested in current ideas on nutrition. If they are interested, making sense of information and finding what works for them can be daunting. //

I would agree with that.

[spathiphyllum]

'fat people' and people who are obese are different. RG is an arrogant joker who makes money by mocking people. He is missing out so many details. He was fat and lazy, not all obese people are.

[ChillDoubt]

I'd argue that most people are ignorant and often not interested in current ideas on nutrition. If they are interested, making sense of information and finding what works for them can be daunting.
——————
Utter rubbish IMHO, the internet is awash with advice on healthy eating and lifestyle, it’s a matter of choice, it’s that simple.

[Rockrose]

How overweight Chill?

[spathiphyllum]

Surely anyone who's never been fat or obese is ignorant to that position... People saying obese people are ignorant, in themselves, are being ignorant.

[Theland]

It sad how many people pontificate.

[ummmm]

Chill...from a very young age I've had an interest in food and cooking, something my sister never had. Our tastes in food are very very different so much so that our mother stopped cooking for us!

[ChillDoubt]

Does it matter how much RR?
I lost 5 stone through diet and exercise and could do with losing another 2......but like I said, I don’t make excuses, I’ve altered my lifestyle.