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.

[dannyk13]

Totally agree.

[ummmm]

Fatties? That's a bit insulting!!

People over eat for a number of reasons.

[retrocop]

I reckon ignorance and Indolence plays a large role in obesity in most cases these days. Poor diet and quick junk food intake. I don't agree it is a disease.

[Rockrose]

Well I am certainly not ignorant but was extremely overweight!
Yes I consider it a disease I was addicted to food.

[spathiphyllum]

Yes. a disease is a disorder of structure or function. Obesity is an eating disorder.

[BagPussAA]

It is not always as simply as "shoving food down your neck". A lot of people are obese through no fault of their own. They comfort eat because of psychological reasons, myself included. If obesity is classed as a disease then we might get the help we need to combat the illness rather than ridicule which makes it worse

[Rockrose]

Exactly puss and unless you have been in this situation you have no knowledge.
To call people fatties or ignorant is Unnecessary

[spathiphyllum]

it is unnecessary but it's not wrong, and it shouldn't be insulting to know that.

The reason fat people have a stigma is because it's considered quite unhealthy. Not many people will select a partner who is obese due to health reasons. It isn't normally considered attractive because when you see someone with excess fat you think 'unhealthy'

This is why there is a stigma.

[naomi24]

Not a disease - a state of mind. Obese people have a love affair with food.

[Rockrose]

In some cultures having a fat wife is a sign of wealth and in our own history it was also a positive thing to be overweight.
Calling people names because they are not the norm is a form of bullying, is it ok to call people retard or spastic in a derogatory manner?

[Rockrose]

Not a love affair

[Sqad]

It would seem that disease has taken on a wider meaning from when i understood the word disease.
It is now getting to the stage where EVERY deviation from the norm is classified as a disease....ADHS...AUTISM.....and if you do not fulfill all the requirements of a particular disorder, there is always the "Spectrum" that will fit you in.

A diseased process seems to be whatever you want it to mean.....you may even diagnose it yourself bt tick box in the national newspaper if you like.

So in answer to your question....ye but, no but, yer but no but......whatever you like.

[naomi24]

A discussion on name calling detracts from the issue.

[spathiphyllum]

Naomi, are you saying you can’t have a disease of the mind? Really?

[naomi24]

Spath, I said what I said and I meant what I said.

[Deskdiary]

When did the word 'fat' become wrong? What should we use? Well-upholstered? big-boned?

"Yes I consider it a disease I was addicted to food."

If 'addiction' is the yard-stick by which diseases are classified, then clearly smoking must be a disease as well.

[ToraToraTora]

depends how they set the paramters, ie anyone over the BMI? anyone over a BMI of a certain amount? That#s most rugby players deseased for a start. What will classifying it as a disease achieve?
DD: "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. " - the main difference is that smoking is not required to live, eating is. It's like a drug that you must take some of. So I wouldn't say something that is a choice is a disease.

[naomi24]

//I wouldn't say something that is a choice is a disease. //

Neither would I.

[spathiphyllum]

"Spath, I said what I said and I meant what I said."


I'm sure you did, however that doesn't make it factual at all. It's simply your opinion.

[cassa333]

Being fat for the vast majority of people is a lifestyle choice.

But once in its grip it does become a compulsion.

Smoking is a choice but once in its grip is a compulsion.

Both these things should be treated in a sympathetic but firm manner.

They are not a disease Per sa they are mental illnesses with addiction thrown in. Treat the mental illness and addiction but let’s not absolve people of the choices they made to get where they are.