Obesity is the state of being grossly overweight due to excessive body fat. Men with more than 25% body fat and women with more than 30% body fat are considered obese. This condition occurs when a person consumes more calories than he or she burns. The causes for this may include psychological factors such as emotional eating, genetic factors such as heredity and environmental factors such as the habit of valuing convenience over nutrition. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. It has also been linked to other serious health problems, including diabetes, cancer, reproductive problems in women and liver disease. Obesity may also cause negative psychological effects due to th stigma attached to being overweight. Obese people may feel unattractive and others may perceive them as gluttonous or lazy. They may be discriminated against at school or in the workplace. Treatment for obesity may include diet and exercise, counseling, prescription drugs and bariatric surgery. Medicare recognized obesity as a medical illness on July 15, 2004.
Some argue that because obesity leads to serious long-term or fatal conditions, it is deserving of professional attention and should be classified as a medical illness. They note that genetics, along with biologically based problems such as abnormal food cravings, eating patterns or metabolism, are key factors in determining who will be subject to obesity. The article HHS Announces Revised Medicare Obesity Coverage Policy discusses the removal of language from the Medicare manual stating that obesity is not an illness. What the Doctor Orders, by Jacob Sullum, states that "if smoking, alcohol abuse, and illegal drug use can be diseases, surely obesity can." In No. 1 Health Problem, Obesity, Seldom Treated, it is stated that "studies are increasingly confirming that obesity is a medical problem."
Opponents argue that overeating and lack of exercise are the main causes of obesity, even in those with a genetic predisposition. They feel that legitimizing obesity as a medical problem will remove the responsibility from the individual. In House OKs Ban on Fast Food Obesity Suits, the author states that "those who overeat should blame themselves," indicating this is not a medical problem but a lifestyle choice. "Socioeconomic factors significantly and systematically affect an individual’s ability to achieve good health" is an argument put forth in The Role of Economics in Eating Choices and Weight Outcomes. The article HHS Unveils FDA Strategy to Help Reduce Obesity reveals that people should accept more responsibility for their eating and lifestyle habits.
Information from SIRS RESEARCHER
26 comments:
I think that obesity is something that can be controlled. With dieting and regular workouts oyu can take more control over your wieght and life. Some people don;t have the discipline though. Some people also "eat" their feelings. This happens often when people are upset and that can come from a bad day or not being happy over their body image. So just eating more to make yourself feel better is not a solving anything. I think that obesity cures should be covered by healthcare because if people do have the disciplne to diet they may not have the money. This isn't just a cosmetic issue. As you've read obesity leads to seriuos health issue, such as heart diseases, diabetes, and more. With help from the doctors and costs covered many people will probaly put more effort in the weight loss process.
I do not think obesity should be classified as a medical illness. People can control how much they eat and how often they exercise. It is their own fault if they become obese.
I believe there are two ways a person becomes obese.
One is through heredity. There is scientific evidence that some obese people have congenitally low sensitivity to leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells in the stomach, which suppresses appetite and stimulates energy expenditure.
On the other hand there are many cases where genetics have absolutely nothing to do with a certain person's weight. These people who make themselves obese by practicing poor diet and nutrition.
As for a solution, I agree with "random" that drugs to fight obesity should be included in heathcare for those Americans who have made the mistake of letting obesity overcome them. Although Americans should not turn to a drug as the solution to all of their problems. People, even those with genes that make them more prone to becoming obese, have the capability to change their lifestyles in order to maintain a healthy weight.
i agree with random. Although, some people do have a harder time losing weight. I have a condition called insulin resistance. It is the opposite of diabetes. Diabetics get shots to boost thier insulin, because thier blood sugar is too high. I have to take pills to control mine, because otherwise I produce too much insulin, and my blood sugar drops to low, making me hungry, and wanting to eat more often.
The reason why I went into this, is because if I do not take my pills then I will eat almost every hour of the day. My metabolism is slow because of this and so I have trouble losing weight. So yes, sometimes obesity can be because of a condition or a disease, but is obesity a disease? I dont think so. Even though I have insulin resistance, i can control it, with proper diet and exercise. So can anyone else!
People who are obese, to me, seem like they just don't care. One of my friends put it into a story like this. "Because this obese woman does not want to exert herself enough to walk to the donut aisle and back to the registers, she takes a cart, the last cart that walmart has. Now, if some gentleman with crutches comes in, he can't get groceries well, because that lady took the last cart. Maybe she'll see him, feel sorry for him, only to be distracted by twinkies." What my friend said is true. We are concerned about the number one. we do not care about anyone else, unless they have something to offer us.
To stop obesity, start excercising more, eat less, and be more concerned about others.
I did a little research for a part of my debate questions during the CES.
Obesity is one of the biggest problems in all of America because it concerns so many people. I think that there is a huge medium in between obesity being an illness and a lifestyle.
It has been shown that some are emotionally attached to eating. These and some others are the people that can say they have an illness. As rational people do, they should need to seek medical and psychological help as a result.
Other people eat so much because it is cheap and at hand. School vending machines becomes a huge issue with this being brought up. I am going to sound like the devil's advocate with this, but I think that there should be publicly-enforced eating regulations in places like schools. If people want to go to a gas station after school and pick up their Cheetos, fine, but not in school. I think its also kind of rude to be stuffing your face when others don't have food to eat, but that's just me.
Clearly, since obesity has become a leading killer so quickly, something has to be done to slow it down.
Many people have put the blame of obesity on the shoulders of the fast food restaurants. This is completely absurd. You have control of what you eat. Sure, you may have a busy lifestyle, but that does not mean you have to go to McDonald's and eat the largest value meal available. If one does have to eat fast food they can always go to Subway, which serves healthy sandwiches. Other fast food places are implementing salads to their menus. There is no reason that fast food restaurants should be sued for their part in the obesity epidemic.
The obesity through genetics is legitimate though, but there are many ways to prevent it as well. Exercise, a healthy diet, and in some cases a prescription medicine are all that is needed.
Something needs to be done about this issue, but calling it a disease is taking it too far. People need to control themselves and they will not suffer from this epidemic.
I think that obesity is something that can be controlled. You get what you put in. If you eat fastfood everyday the outcome will show. I'm not sayiny never to eat fastfood. I'm saying it's not health to eat fastfood all the time.
Also you don't have to be dieting and going to the gym the rest of your life to be healthy. Cut back on the fastfood, go twice a month instead of 4 days out of one week. And instead of going on elevators climb the stairs. Little things can make a big difference.
I also believe that obesity is not a medical illness. I feel like I'm just repeating everybody here but if you choose to be more healthy, you can be. It's not easy but it can be controlled.
People choose to be obese even if they don't want to. It's not a disease. Obesity is not a virus that causes people to be overwieght. It's their own choice.
If obesity is a disease or if it is just seen as a problem in America, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that something is done to stop the problem! Although there are factors such as genetics, psychological problems, and environment that contribute to obesity, the main point is that obesity is a preventable condition. It is amazing and shocking to me that obesity is the 2nd leading cause of a preventable. That shouts “WE NEED TO CHANGE SOME THINGS” to me. There are many different causes for obesity and each one needs to be tackled in order to make our children live in a world where obesity is not a cause of death in any category.
Before I go into ways I think America can change to overcome obesity, I would like to say that I think that it is the actions of the person who consumes the food and doesn’t exercise enough that are the ultimate reasons they become obese. I would love for America to go back to before fast food was invented and technology was not so advanced. In those times, America was safer and people were healthier. But it can’t.
So… the first thing I think can help with obesity is for the government to do something. If the government implemented REQUIRED P.E. and Nutrition/Health into public schools, starting at kindergarten, kids would be more informed and more likely to make smart choices, plus, they get to exercise so if they do make bad decisions, they can work it off. Another way to try to rid America of obesity is medication and counseling for the psychological factors that lead to overeating. There is nothing that can be done to decrease the use of technology and get kids out from in front of the TV, but maybe there could be more health-conscious commercials on television to get people thinking about healthy food.
I do not think that Obesity is a disease because it is VERY preventable. Cancer is a disease because you can’t do anything to prevent getting it. Colds aren’t diseases because they are preventable through washing hands and avoiding contact with sick people, just like obesity is preventable through healthy eating and exercising. But who really cares if it is a disease or not, lets just fix it!
FIGHT THE FAT!
Although there are some genetic problems that can lead to obesity, the majority of the obesity in America is the fault of the overweight people themselves. The fast food companies or other food producing companies should never have to fight a lawsuit for FORCING their consumers to become overweight. That is ridiculous. It is completely, 100% the consumer's choice as to what food they consume. If they make the choice to put not nutritious or healthful food into their bodies it is no fault but their own.
Yes, it does take more planning and time to choose good nutrition over convenience, but it is not impossible, or really even difficult. I also have a blood sugar disorder which requires me to be much more conscious of what i put into my body, in order to continue feeling well, and to hopefully prevent future diabetes. Also, staying fit and exercising regularly is a requirement. It's not a burden, and has become something that i actually enjoy.
Therefore, I completely agree that obesity should not be classified as a medical illness. It seems like doing so would give people an excuse for their own laziness.
Obesity is a consequence of bad health choices. There is no excuse. Granted, some people have it in their genes to be naturally bigger or smaller than others, but obesity can be controlled.
okay, I can definitely see that some people are naturally bigger than others. I can understand that some people have slower metabolism than others. I can also see that some people have bigger bones than others. You learn in your junior high years how much food you can take in and how much weight you are gaining. I believe strongly that obesity is a choice. Watch what you are eating. I have a very slow metabolism and gain weight pretty easily. I learned this a long time ago and I make healthier choices and eat less. It kind of sucks that smaller people can eat more junk food and eat more in general then those who are bigger, but it's something you have to except. Control your diet. That's all I have to say.
Ok, so my question is: what recent factors have made obesity more common? I mean, is it just me or has this only become a major health issue in the past few years?
So what have we changed genetically that has caused this radical health problem? Is it reversible?
I think that we may need to revert back to a less "technologically oriented" era of time if that is what it is going to take to bring back physical health to so many Americans...
There are definitely some genetic factors that play a role in obesity. But, haven't those factors been present all along? More recently though, has obesity been such a problem. So if the genetic factors have been there, then there has to be more that is leading to such high numbers of obesity cases.
Today's society is not helping obesity in America. We are big on sitting at the computer for hours at a time, playing video games, and just plain sitting around. Also, today, everything is fast, fast, fast. This includes fast food being a common part of the average American's diet.
Falling into our society is dangerous to a person's health. However, it is a choice to fall into that. You can also choose to be active and play sports. Or to just move around instead of wasting away your life in front of technology. You choose to waste your life. You choose how and what you eat. You choose what you do day-to-day. So essentially, you choose obesity. These worrisome statistics are due to people choosing obesity over good health. Before the stats became overwhelming, there were still some people who were genetically obese. And that it still the case for some of the obese people today, but not the majority of people; the number of gentic obesity is still the same percentage as it was before obesity became such a problem. Why would you choose to be obese? Come on people, get up and move. Be smart. Obesity is overall a choice. And it needs to to be stopped.
First, I would like to say that fast food restaurants in no way need to change their menu options. Its not like someone forced to eat there. Its their choice. If you think that the food, for example, McDonalds offers is really unheathly, then don't eat there. I, on the other hand, personally like to endulge my self in greasy, fried potatoes every once in a while. Its my choice. Like its McDonald's choice to serve that food. So don't tell me that i can't eat those salty, grimey pieces of heaven when i totally have the right to.
Another thing is that fast food, or junk food, such as twinkies, aren't necessarily the worst, and they aren't going to make you automatically fat. Its the amount you eat. If you eat one twinkie a day, you aren't going to be obese, but if you only eat twinkies once in a while your going to be fine. Its like when my mother tells me that she can't eat a cookie because the white sugar will screw with her metabolism and make her eat the whole batch of cookies or something like that. LIES. Its all about self control.
I just want to take a second here in the middle of my rant to address the posting of soaring eagle a few weeks back. The whole walmart story makes absolutly no sense. First off, walmart would never have so many customers to run out of carts. And second off, the obese woman totally has the right to take the last cart if she wants to. Theres no way that she could predict that the old man with crutches was going to come in after her. And maybe shes buying alot of donuts and needs that cart to carry them. Shopping for donuts at walmart doesn't make you obese. And just because someone is obese doesn't mean that they are nescessarily hurting the eldery. Anyway my point is that this example has nothing to do with anything and is completly ridiculous.
So yeah answering the question, whose fault is obesity? Its the person's.
And as far as school lunches go, I want my chocolate donouts back!
Everyday we are faced with the choices of what we eat for lunch. There is the salad bar and the hot lunch, along with the pizza and fries. We do control what and how we eat. People blame obesity on a genetic trait, yet if you take the precautions of eating healthy and exercising this excuse should never occur. In the world today we need to promote a healthy lifestyle. Exercising can be fun, but the way most people view it they think it to be a tiresome and annoying task. Yet sports and games help keep you moving while also giving you a blast with friends. So why do we still lay on our couch eating junk food. Is it because with all sugar is just appealing? If shows and media began to promote a healthy lifestyle, maybe this obesity epidemic could be curbed and destroyed.
Some medical illnesses can cause obesity and some medical illnesses can come from obesity but obbesity by itself cannot be considered a disease. If you do not have a thyroid issue or some kind of metabolism problem that causes you to retain more calories than you burn than you just have a problem with over eating and that can be controlled with diet and exercise. I personally really really like food and it makes me happy. Its yummy. but sometimes i have have to stop myself so i dont become fat because that can lead to health problems.
Honestly though, I've noticed a lot of the time that fat people are happier than skinny people! I think its cause skinny people are too worried about their self image and bigger people dont care as much. I find that motivating and very interesting
I agree with that the leading cause of obesity is lack of proper nutrition and exercise. I also think that genetics do play a partial role in leading to obesity, but I don't think that people should be able to use that as an excuse. We should all obese or underweight try to live a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and exercise.
Obesity is all a matter of mathematics and physics...
Fat is energy that is stored by the body. When a person takes in more energy (calories) than it uses, the body will store the excess in the form of fat. If this is done too frequently, the person becomes obese. If calorie intake is less than energy used, the body gets the extra energy it needs from fat.
So, no matter what your genetic tendency is, you only have fat added to your body when there are too many calories.
To me, this is not a disease, but does have a serious impact on your health.
I feel that something must be done about obesity, however, I think if we had the answer to what has to be done we would not struggle with problem. I think that enforcing eating regulations in public places, for example school, would serve to be more negative then positive. I know a lot of girls who are so careful about what they eat and would still be considered obese. I also know a lot of girls who eat what they want when they want to and are as skinny as sticks. I think that enforcing regulations on eating would just make people more aware of their body. The goal of these programs would be to encourage people to lose weight and I think it would just make people more depressed about their body weight. The desire to lose weight has to come from with in because it is truly a battle of your self control. We need to motivate people to lose weight not enforce rules on them to try to make them lose weight. I think encouragement and motivation will go so much farther than rules and regulations. Some people will say that these rules and regulations do motivate but having someone tell you again and again that you are fat is not motivating.
I just wanted to say that people can become fat from thier genetics, but u also usually see those people who use that excuse getting 4th portions, eating at McDonald's every day, and sittin on the couch all the time, which would help them get rid of the fat. They use it as an excuse n don't do anything about it(although some do and succeed). Personally if i ever became overweight i'd probably wouldn't eat at all n go anorexic(or however u spell it).
While many of you have said obesity is a disease, how are you to say that when you may not know what it's like to experience it. I, myself, am not obese, nor fat, but I can understand the struggle to keep your weight down, especially when genetics have proven to effect your weight. It's not fair for you to say obesity is not a medical problem- prove it. It's proven to sometimes be caused by hereditary problems, just like many other diseases, so why should obesity be different?
im with everyone that says obesity is your stinking fault. maybe if we wouldn't each so much mcdonalds and other junk food, and maybe get out and run every once and awhile it'd do you some good... in fact, i run everyday,and i eat whatever i want, and at the most ive stayed even on my weight, so why should what you call"obese" people be given another excuse to sit on their lazy butts and complain? its their fault!
Americans eat way more than they need to. Just because there is food in front of you doesnt necesarily mean you 'should' eat it. Most americans eat until they exceed more than enough to not be hungry. You become obese by eating until you are completely stuffed and not exercising at all and sitting on the couch watching the simpsons. Start eathing healthy and exercise and then see what happens.
Everything is a disease nowadays! They even have medical diagnoses for children who are shy!! COME ON AMERICA, here’s and idea, how about we accept responsibility for our own actions! Yes, obesity can be genetic, but a disease? Seriously? I think the doctors just want more money to prescribe weight loss pills to people who eat their way to diabetes and other REAL diseases, instead of going at it old school and taking themselves to a gym! Just like abortion, we all have a choice, just think twice before getting that KING sized Double Whopper Meal at Burger King.
I don't believe obesity is a disease persay. It is a medical problem... but surely it is due to bad choices. I can understand being overweight due to medication, genetics, slow metabolism, or other factors, but to be obese actually takes effort. Am I the only person who notices obese people always have excess calories nearby... a gas station Big Gulp soda, a candy bar, a bag of chips. That constant intake of junk calories is necessary in order to become and maintain such a high weight.
Post a Comment