American Medical Association classifying obesity as a disease

[Jazzy]

The American Medical Association has officially recognized obesity as a disease, a decision that could change the way physicians and insurance companies deal with the condition.

The move, announced on Tuesday, will open up a range of medical interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity and changes the status of obesity from "a major public health problem" to a disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 36 percent of American adults are obese.

Dr. Lou Aronne, an obesity expert at New York Presbyterian Hospital, said medical researchers have long recognized obesity as a disease but said the AMA's recognition and re-classification will "have a tremendous impact on legislation in Washington [and] with insurance companies."

As it stands, insurance policies "generally exclude obesity treatment," Aronne said Wednesday on "CBS This Morning," which limits the treatment of obesity-related conditions, including "diabetes, high blood pressure, even cancers [that] are caused by obesity."

While prevention is "key," he said, "if that doesn't work, we've got to implement treatment programs, and we're not doing that very well."

Full article

Do you consider obesity a disease? Why or why not?

 

[The Dragon Master]

If it helps people who want help to get help then I'm all for it being classed as a disease. But on the other hand I don't think it's a good idea for it to be classed as a disease because in my opinion it will just give people, who are already obese, an excuse to not do anything about it or abuse the system(s).

 

[Evil Eye]

Well, I guess...

1. (pathology) An abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort or dysfunction; distinct from injury insofar as the latter is usually instantaneously acquired.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/disease

Though people'd better not start taking sickdays.

 

[DrLeftover]

I guess that means that it isn't my fault that I'm fat.

I eat too much, drink too much, don't exercise, smoke cigars, and have no intention of changing.....

But it isn't my fault that I'm fat.

Thank you AMA.

 

[Evil Eye]

But it isn't my fault that I'm fat.

No, no, no. It's quite possible to catch a disease on purpose!

 

[Sinon]

Obesity itself should not be considered a disease. It can be a side effect of certain diseases and illnesses, but it can also be self-inflicted in such a manner that other diseases cannot be.

 

[Jazzy]

In my opinion, obesity in itself is not a disease. Obesity causes diseases not the other way around.