It's more of a condition really, disease implies (At least to me) that it's something that can be caught, you can't catch being fat. While there are some things that place it somewhat out of a person's control (Glandular problems for example) it IS something that a person can counteract if they wish to and that doesn't really say disease to me.
Poll: Obesity as a Disease.
- Thread starter Ranorak
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The problem with being obese, is that you're too fat.
So if you stop being fat, that'll probably help.
So if you stop being fat, that'll probably help.
Read this post, It is on the front page for gods sake. Why does everyone seem to think a disease means something like cancer or the plague...Aidinthel said:
EDIT: I'm not standing up for people who blame it for being a disease, I'm just sort of annoyed people don't understand what the term actually is.
I think obesity could be an illness in some kind of anti-anorexia way but then it would really be a symptom, the underlying cause for shoving food down you gullet would be the illness. So not a disease by itself though wait gain can be a symptom of other diseases.
Some people have slower metabolisms, or their bodies naturally retain fats more than other peoples. But the fact remains that said fat has to get into your body somehow, it doesn't just appear. So, no. Being 'fat' is not genetic anymore than having a broken leg is genetic.
I would question the 40-70% statistic, unless that's somehow unique to Westerners and predominantly Caucasians.
Where are the 40% of obese Chinese, or Kenyans, or Swedes?
If America has an obesity epidemic it's less to do with genetics and more to do with lifestyle and American food regulations. And, you know, public education on the issue, which is being actively held back by yet again medicalizing a social issue because it lets lazy people feel better about their poor decisions.
Where are the 40% of obese Chinese, or Kenyans, or Swedes?
If America has an obesity epidemic it's less to do with genetics and more to do with lifestyle and American food regulations. And, you know, public education on the issue, which is being actively held back by yet again medicalizing a social issue because it lets lazy people feel better about their poor decisions.
I knew a girl (recently deceased at 28) who got reversible gastric bypass, grocery shopped under supervision, bought only healthy things, and attended multiple health programs. She remained obese (and died of a heart attack) regardless. The issue was that her "eating too much" overlapped with "starving to death" with no in-between - her body remained in constant hardcore fat-storage mode at all times.
Yes, it can be an actual disease. However, the above illness is so rare (caused by very specific brain damage) that trying to blame your fatness on it is laughable, especially if you're complaining about it while eating buffalo wings while sitting in a obesity scooter.
Yes, it can be an actual disease. However, the above illness is so rare (caused by very specific brain damage) that trying to blame your fatness on it is laughable, especially if you're complaining about it while eating buffalo wings while sitting in a obesity scooter.
Obesity is not a disease. It may be a symptom of a desease, but it is not in and of itself a desease. Also, physics still applies to human beings, conservation of energy is in effect, if you ingest more calories of energy than you lose, you will gain weight, that is unavoidable.
I really hate these weight related posts and I don't know why I read them because they make me angry. I am an obese person, who excersises daily and eats approx 800-1000 calories a day. 3 doctors and 2 dieticians have thrown their hands up and given up because they don;t know why I don't lose weight. Occasionally i might lose a few kg here and there but nothing like what I should be losing. The only reasons they can give me is either its the medication I'm on (which I can't stop) or that I don't get enough sleep. I work 2 jobs and am a student so I don't get much sleep.
I hate that people assume that I'm lazy and live on shit food. Yes a large portion of obese people do bring it upon themselves by eating what would be a weekly intake in food for me as a daily menu. But I'm not.
Is it a disease? That would depend on the definition of disease I guess. In some cases, it might be. Or its a symptom of several.
I hate that people assume that I'm lazy and live on shit food. Yes a large portion of obese people do bring it upon themselves by eating what would be a weekly intake in food for me as a daily menu. But I'm not.
Is it a disease? That would depend on the definition of disease I guess. In some cases, it might be. Or its a symptom of several.
Problem is that a lot of people seem to equate physical endurance to health. Great for you if you can walk miles without rest, but if you are obese it'll still drastically increase your risk of heart faliure, diabetes, liver problems etc.BishopofAges said:
In the UK, it pisses me off a little when people say 'if i'm happy with myself it doesn't matter if i'm fat' because we have nationalised healthcare. I love having the NHS, but I feel like people who wilfully live unhealthy lifestyles and demand NHS treatment for the myriad of conditions that they will experience are just putting extra strain on an already overstressed service at the cost of everyone else. If they pay for the inevitable extra workload, then fine; if healthcare is entirely privatised where you are, then great. if not, then it's a bit selfish to live in a way that's going to screw over the healthcare system if it is possible for you to get healthy.
You misunderstand my standpoint, I mean to say that I am happy with myself and my abilities and demand/require no treatment whatsoever because I dislike doctors for trying to depress me or abuse my insurance for unnecessary things. If I die of heart disease, liver disease, etc. at the age of 60 instead of 80, then so be it!Toby Kitching said:
People who leech off the system arn't solely obese people. There are drug addicts, people who raise kids simply for welfare (not all just some), con-artists, etc. I'm just trying to say that in my personal experience that I have no intention of calling it a disease and sitting around waiting for people to 'fix it.'
There are diseases, disorders, and physical malformations which can cause someone to be overweight. That is a scientific fact. So to say obesity can NEVER be a disease is simply totally wrong. But, to say it is ALWAYS a disease is just as incorrect. Lung cancer is a disease most often caused by smoking, but it is not ALWAYS caused by smoking. So to say it's not a disease simply because most people "bring it upon themselves" is neither helping the problem, and nor is it fair to or helping the people who never touched a cigarette a day in their life. It's simply assigning blame so that people feel less obligated to get off their own asses and help.
Well, if a person understands the risks, then so be it. It just worries me slightly when you see people arguing that being obese is as healthy as being in good shape. it suggests that people dont understand what they might be exposing themselves to.BishopofAges said:
Indeed, obese people are by no means the only healthcare leeches. I regard anybody who abuses a saftey-net system like the NHS with equal disdain. If people have legitimate problems, then the NHS is entirely there to help, but people are starting to treat it like an alternative to common sense. Side point, but i saw a programme a while back where a 19 year old girl was trying to get breast implants on the NHS. she already had C-cups, but decided that this qualified as enough of a medical disorder to warrant government-subsidised cosmetic surgery. [disdainful expression]
Sorry to hear that, but the problem is that (i suspect) you are in the minority. All the obese people I know (and i know a worryingly large number) are very inactive and eat excessively. Several of them have now latched onto the excuse of 'it's a disease' and are using it as an excuse to not excersize. if the majority of people CAN cure themselves, then it makes sense to assume that it's curable until proven otherwise, as in your case.theravensclaw said:
Being fat is no more a disease than being very skinny.
In other words: no. It can be a symptom, but it can also just be a body type. It depends on the individual. (Yes, William Sheldon [http://www.innerexplorations.com/catpsy/t1c4.htm] oversimplified; what he didn't do was talk entirely out of his ass.)
In other words: no. It can be a symptom, but it can also just be a body type. It depends on the individual. (Yes, William Sheldon [http://www.innerexplorations.com/catpsy/t1c4.htm] oversimplified; what he didn't do was talk entirely out of his ass.)
I think the real question is simply if being fat is outside of the control of some people. In some insignificant percentage of cases the answer is yes. In the rest? Nope. The problem is a poor combination of groceries and lifestyle.