Obesity is Not a Disease

1189 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Defined obesity is a public health issue essay

Obesity has played a major role in media over the last decade. With growing concern over the issue, a controversy over whether obesity is a disease itself or not has developed. Obesity, by definition, is a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body, usually indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater. According to the currently accepted definition of disease, a condition of the body or one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, it can be concluded that obesity does not meet the criteria to be classified as a disease.

In order for obesity to be a disease it would have to either impair the function of an individual and/or have distinguishable signs or symptoms. Obesity lacks the signs and symptoms associated with being a disease. The only sign is the presence of having excess fat, which, by definition, is obesity itself. To indicate if somebody is obese, a calculation taking height and weight into consideration is used to determine the persons’ body mass index (BMI). If the result is 30 or greater, the individual is considered obese. The BMI has a strong correlation with excess body fat, but does not directly measure it, making it an inaccurate assessment of health. Most people with a high BMI have no impairments and have no problems functioning on a day to day basis. In some extreme cases, a large quantity of excess fat can reduce mobility, but this is hardly the case for most obese individuals. With obesity rarely causing any sort of impairment in normal functioning it does not meet the standards of being a disease.

It is hard to deny that obesity is commonly attributed to the development of diseases such a...

... middle of paper ...

...ractices more available to people can have a very negative outcome. The positive results can be obtained solely through exercise and dieting which do not require a medical diagnosis.

Obesity is a growing concern in America because it puts people at risk of disease. Obesity does not fit the definition of a disease and can be readily prevented or controlled by diet and regular exercise. A person’s genetics may not always allow them to be at an ideal weight, but eating right and staying active will keep them healthy and decrease their risk developing obesity related diseases. The government’s recent push to see obesity as a disease is ineffective and may result in some negative repercussions. With the proper strategies and knowledge there is no limit to what size a person must be to live a full and completely functional life without being diagnosed with a disease.

Show More
Related

  • Dr. Segal's The Cookie FAD Diet

    786 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... quick fix” and “after awhile you get bored of eating the same foods over and over again and most importantly you’re preventing your body from getting the nutrients that it needs” (Fox News). Preventing your body from getting these essential nutrients have been linked to a series of issues such as: fatigue, dizziness, constipation, and also depression. As for long term issues, a diet lacking in essential nutrients have proved to be linked to binge eating in the future (Fox News). Another discouraging downfall to the diet is exercise, if the patient is someone who likes to exercise vigorously; such as running or even jogging, the diet is not for them. Since the diet is so low in calories, it does not supply enough energy to the patient for a vigorous workout. However, Dr. Siegal does recommend slight exercise for thirty minutes a day such as brisk walking (Overview).

    Read More

  • A Proposal to Reverse Obesity Rates

    1830 Words  | 4 Pages

    Obesity is a huge problem that needs to be resolved because it affects all people, unlike most issues. People of every gender, every age, and every race are at risk of being obese. Obesity rates in America have nearly doubled within the last twenty years. Something must be done not only to prevent obesity rates continuous rising, but also to dramatically increase the percentage of obese people in America altogether.

    Read More

  • Obesity

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are exceptions with peoples BMI, an athlete can have a high BMI and not be overweight or obese. Adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher are considered obese. A person with a high BMI can have a normal amount of body fat if they have more muscle tissue. However, the risk of death and disease is increased for adults who are overweight and obese (Kolata 1). Common causes of obesity can be excessive caloric intake, thyroid disorders, lack of physical activity, genes, medicines, emotions, smoking, age, and pregnancy.

    Read More

  • The Cost Of Obesity On The Nhs

    2117 Words  | 5 Pages

    Obesity is a very complex condition as there are many physiological and psychological dimensions to it. The complications accompanying the disease are multiple and are associated with the increased risk of many other medical conditions. It is thought that we live in an obesogenic environment due to an interaction of environmental, developmental and cultural influences. With the main cause of the disorder thought to be due to a combination of a sedentary lifestyle accompanied by an increased consumption of poor quality food with a high calorie and sugar content. The lack of energy expenditure could be explained by many individuals working a large number of hours, most days of the week in jobs that require minimal physical activity and it is often difficult to accomplish the recommended ...

    Read More

  • Metabolism Factors Essay On Obesity

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    The American Medical Association (AMA) has declared obesity a disease. Obesity means that an individual has too much body weight that could possibly cause a health risk. Having a body-mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher makes an individual morbidly obese. A healthy BMI would be from 20 to 24.9. The United States has one of the highest obesity rates in the world with an estimated of 36% of American adults suffering from it. It is important to not label obesity as a disease because it leads 78 million adults and 12 million children in America into feeling helpless, and takes them away from believing it’s importance as a condition that is the result of eating too much and living sedentary lifestyles.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: Is Obesity A Disease?

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    Is obesity a disease? This is a question many people have asked. Yes, obesity is a disease; but one essential question many people tend to forget to ask is, “Can obesity be prevented,” or “how could obesity be prevented?” Prevention does not put an end to obesity, but in fact it can decrease a person 's risk of becoming obese. There are many challengers towards the decision to why obesity rates are increasing; many say it refers back to the person’s lifestyle, eating habits, and environment. Obesity should be prevented in a childhood versus being corrected later in life, but in order for obesity to be prevented people must first be aware of the causes then conclude by learning the fundamental factors that play into prevention.

    Read More

  • Obesity is NOT a Disease

    2376 Words  | 5 Pages

    Proponents of classifying obesity as a disease claim that it fits the definition of a disease. The American Heritage Dictionary defines disease as “a pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmen...

    Read More

  • The Cause of Obesity in the United States

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Obesity has increased rapidly throughout the years, especially in the United States. As of today, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults in the U.S are considered to be obese. We all know that obesity is becoming a serious issue in the lives Americans. The effects of obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and in serious cases, death. So the question we can all ask is, “What is the cause?” The cause of obesity can come from, but is not limited to, some of these things: eating habits, lack of exercise, or a medical condition.

    Read More

  • Obesity as a Disease

    1337 Words  | 3 Pages

    3.     Obesity as a disease: Obesity fits all the definitions of ‘disease’, that is, interruption in bodily function.

    Read More

  • Obesity Informative Speech

    1229 Words  | 3 Pages

    The official definition of obesity, is having a BMI of greater than 29.9. (Obesity and overweight). For example for a 5’10” male, a weight of 160lbs would yield a BMI of 23.0. Perfectly within the BMI range of healthy weight, 18.5- 24.9. But if that 5’10” male weighed say 230lbs, they would have a BMI of 33.0, and would be considered Obese.

    Read More

  • Obesity : Obesity And Obesity

    1184 Words  | 3 Pages

    Amongst one of the bigger health issues in United States children is obesity. Obesity is a condition in which a person has accumulated an excess amount of body fat that it has become detrimental to their health. To track this health professionals use the term “obese” when a person has a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. Although BMI should not be the only determining factor of whether or not you child is obese as it only takes into account of height and weight, it is one of the better known systems of telling whether or not a person is overweight or obese (Nichols). Obesity comes with a range of other health conditions that can include but are not limited to cancer, diabetes, and depression. Not only do children and teens who suffer from obesity acquire many health diseases, they also tend to get failing grades and are bullied amongst peers. Most Americans correlate being obese with having an unhealthy lifestyle, but according to a 2006 Fox News article there may be other factors that attribute to obesity that include smoking, medicine, pollution, technology and lack of sleep. (“10 Causes of Obesity Other Than Overeating”). One part that does although indeed play a role in to child obesity rates is economics.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Childhood Obesity

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to an article in Oxford Journals, “There is substantial evidence for the hereditability of obesity, and research in both rare and common forms of obesity has identified genes with significant roles in its etiology” (Genetics…).

    Read More

  • Technology & Social Media’s Influence on Obesity

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    Metcalf, T., & Metcalf, G. (Eds.). (2008). Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders: Obesity. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Cengage Learning

    Read More

  • Causes and Effects of Adult Obesity

    1953 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although many individuals are uncertain about the increasing statistics associated with obesity, more than seventy percent of men and virtually sixty-two percent of women within the United States adult population are overweight or obese (Wilmore, Costill, & Kenney). Obesity refers to the condition of having an excessive amount of body fat. If an individual’s amount of body fat becomes too excessive, he/she is at a much greater risk of developing life-altering diseases such as heart failure, hypertension, type II diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, etc. (Wilmore, et al., 2008).

    Read More

  • Is Obesity a Disease?

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    Obesity is a serious condition that has generated a discussion on whether or not to be classified as a disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is the body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which is calculated based on the person’s height and weight. For years, our society has been facing the obesity challenge, which can be extremely costly once it leads to several diseases. Thus, because of the constant increase of percentage of people with obesity, the American Medical Association (AMA) proposed in June 18, 2013 to classify obesity as a disease. Their argument was that obesity increases the risks of countless health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension etc. Moreover, it increases morbidity and mortality. By considering obesity as a disease, their aim was to maximize researches and funding, which will focus on obesity from different medical and health approach levels. Their idea of classifying obesity as a disease was in accordance with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s declaration of 1995. The institute declared, “ Obesity is a complex multifactorial chronic disease developing from multiple interactive influences of numerous factors.” In 2012, the CDC data showed 34.9% of adults obese and 17% of obese children. These numbers are very alarming especially since the struggle to deter certain factors contributing into this condition is still a challenge. Among the struggles, there are the people’s rights versus health regulations to keep them as healthy as possible like the former mayor Bloomberg regulation on soft drinks size cut. During CNN’s show GPS of Sunday 2, 2014, the host Zacharia...

    Read More

More about Obesity is Not a Disease

Open Document