http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/23011804
Ok so the US of A has classed obesity as a disease , thereby making a staggering 1/3 of their population ill.
Personally I am unsure. It is in the realms of addiction where the person clearly has a problem but they also have a relatively easy cure.
That said many of us are able to eat without an issue, drink without being alcoholics etc so is their a genetic reason or is it just lack of self control?
So over to the the STW massive [ see what I did there] is obesity an illness?
I do worry about classing it as a disease.
It takes the onus for providing a cure away from the 'sufferer' and makes them look for a medical solution.
No, it's a result of gluttony.
No.
It's a survival trait.
Not a useful one in the western world at the moment. But that could all change.
It is in the realms of addiction where the person clearly has a problem but they also have a relatively easy cure.
I think it is an addication rather than a disease, but I think if it was that easy to cure, we wouldn't be in the mess we are now with all sorts of addictions.
been happening in psychological diseases for a while
It has also been alleged that the way the categories of the DSM are structured, as well as the substantial expansion of the number of categories, are representative of an increasing medicalization of human nature, which may be attributed to disease mongering by psychiatrists and pharmaceutical companies, the power and influence of the latter having grown dramatically in recent decades.
if you classify such a condition as being a fat ****er as a disease then it leaves it open for the drug companies to "invent" a pill/treatment (solution?) for the problem thus making money for themselves without attempting to sort the underlying problem of folk simply eating too much, just stop lifting those burgers with your podgy little fingers would be a start.
I'm sure there are some cases where a disease [i]causes[/i] the obesity. But obesity itself is obviously not a disease.
It Depends. With some folks I reckon it's a genuine mental illness. With others, it's just greed or not even that, just a legitimate lifestyle choice- lots of people are perfectly happy with how they are, and realistic about the results. My mate Stuart's a big unit, ask him why, he'll tell you simply it's because he loves food. If you ask me why I'm covered in bruises, it's because I love riding bikes, it's just a side effect. He'd not be happy to be told he has a disease.
But yeah I have known people for whom it's variously tied up in delusion, low self esteem, depression, etc. Maybe in those cases it's a symptom rather than a disease?
[b]disease[/b]
[i]noun /d??zi?z/[/i]
[u]Definition[/u]
B1 [C or U] (an) illness of people, animals, plants, etc., caused by infection or a failure of health rather than by an accident.
Entirely depends on your definition. Wiki covers all bases:
[i]It is often construed as a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs.[1] It may be caused by factors originally from an external source, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune diseases. In humans, [b]"disease" is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes pain, dysfunction, distress, social problems, or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems for those in contact with the person. In this broader sense, it sometimes includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms, deviant behaviors,[/b] and atypical variations of structure and function, while in other contexts and for other purposes these may be considered distinguishable categories.[/i]
Not everyone who is obese is guilty of over-eating. Stop being so judgemental. 😐
Well lung cancer is a disease, smoking isn't.
Diabetes is a disease, drinking fizzy pop isn't.
So I guess obesity is a disease, even if over-eating isn't..?
EDIT: All the above diseases CAN happen without the activities listed alongside.
hmmmm, wonder if US citizen could sue their favored ( 😉 ) fast food outlet for making them ill
if you classify such a condition as being a fat ****er as a disease then it leaves it open for the drug companies to "invent" a pill/treatment (solution?) for the problem thus making money for themselves without attempting to sort the underlying problem of folk simply eating too much, just stop lifting those burgers with your podgy little fingers would be a start.
Think thats out there already have a quick google for miracle weight loss. It's as much an industry as making people fat.
Yes acknowledge the problem and help people but dont give people excuses.
For most, no. For a few, yes.
All the 'obese' people I know serve up huge food portions, eat loads of crisps/chocolate etc, drink lots of beer/wine and do no exercise. Go figure.
In 99% of cases it is not a disease. It's a lifestyle choice.
But yeah I have known people for whom it's variously tied up in delusion, low self esteem, depression, etc. Maybe in those cases it's a symptom rather than a disease?
That's just a weird western perception. Anywhere else in the world being fat means you're rich, not broken.
In 99% of cases it is not a disease. It's a lifestyle choice.
I disagree. If people knew about the rubbish treatment that can be dished out to thyroid disease sufferers in the UK then they wouldn't be so quick to criticise.
[i]Anywhere else in the world being fat means you're rich, not broken. [/i]
There was a radio program about a bloke going to live with a tribe in Ethiopia. He was quite overweight.
When he arrived all the children were taken off into the bush and he didn't see them again for about 3 days.
In the end he found out it was because no one in the tribe could believe he'd be able to find enough calories to make him fat without eating other people.
Not everyone who is obese is guilty of over-eating. Stop being so judgemental.
How else are they consuming more calories than they can burn?
In > Out = Gain weight
Out > In = Loose weight
In = Out = Neither loose nor gain.
Adjusting your diet is the hardest part, and that's where people fail.
It doesn't help that MacD's sponsored the olympics, Coca-Cola sponsored international football, etc...
In 99% of cases it is not a disease. It's a lifestyle choice.I disagree. If people knew about the rubbish treatment that can be dished out to thyroid disease sufferers in the UK then they wouldn't be so quick to criticise.
Perhaps the thyroid sufferers are the 1%
In 99% of cases it is not a disease. It's a lifestyle choice.I disagree. If people knew about the rubbish treatment that can be dished out to thyroid disease sufferers in the UK then they wouldn't be so quick to criticise.
Surely people with thyroid issues are in the 1%, not the 99% that neninja is talking about.
In my own experience, there's plenty of fatties who are obese because they eat crap and lots of it but blame their 'thyroid problems'
Well, I was obese - in NHS speak - at just over 15 stone, about 3 years ago. 😯 The nurse looked ashamed when she told me... cos I was fit, innit.
How else are they consuming more calories than they can burn?
If you're untreated/undermedicated then your metabolism does not work as it should.
Perhaps the thyroid suffers are the 1%
The figure will be higher due to:
If people knew about the rubbish treatment that can be dished out to thyroid disease sufferers in the UK
cinnamon_girl - MemberNot everyone who is obese is guilty of over-eating. Stop being so judgemental.
What is the genuine percentage that aren't, though? It must be miniscule. Perhaps the thyroid sufferers should campaign for healthier eating and that way when they are the only overweight people left they will be more sympathetically treated.
In my own experience, there's plenty of fatties who are obese because they eat crap and lots of it but blame their 'thyroid problems'
It can be easy to recognise thyroid disorder symptoms in others, being a sufferer myself.
I went from size 10 to size 18 with no change in a decent diet.
Is anorexia a disease?
Anorexia and overeating are Just different places on the spectrum of eating disorders surely?
If you're untreated/undermedicated then your metabolism does not work as it should.
No, but you adjust your diet accordingly?
So is this that thing where people aren't allowed to be sexist or racist any more so instead they move to another, more acceptable minority to feel superior to?
5thElefant - MemberThat's just a weird western perception. Anywhere else in the world being fat means you're rich, not broken.
Eh, with respect, what a load of rubbish. Yes without some wealth you can't get obese, but that hardly means that realising obesity can be a symptom of poor mental health is either western or weird.
I don't normally get involved in these arguments as I see a cyclist hobby forum looking down on overweight people as being slightly 'elitist'.
cinnamon_girl this is difficult to say but I really don't think its a sizeable amount. Diabetes is on the increase, so is peoples wait due to lifestyle AND diet.
Its the basics.
I'm overweight. Its not because I have any underlying health issues. I like eating and drinking alcohol whilst driving most places and sitting infront of a TV. Alot on STW are similar (even though we are well-meaning and want to exercise/get fit). Its human nature.
The obesity "epidemic" shares many characteristics with other epidemics, in that it spreads (?) within nations and sub-populations by association. It seems to have started in Arkansas. There is a hypothesis that our psychology & physiology may be modified by an agent such as a virus or viroid (cf scrapie), in the way that toxoplasmosis alters cats behaviour. It's a very slow-spreading disease, if it is one, which changes desire for food and activity.
Or it could be a change in gut bacteria:
[url= http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/01/15/is_obesity_an_infectious_disease.php ]Pipeline[/url]
Rather than disease it should be a mental dissorder...... like a kind of ocd,,,,, must eat too much and not do any form of exercise.... thats just my opinion for the majority of obese people. Apologies to the unfortuneate few people who genuinley have a medical problem.
A large friend of mine announced she had a thyroid problem. It went like this:
"I've got an over-active thyroid"
"Under-active?"
"No, over-active"
"Jesus..."
Same conversation with everyone she told. 😆
I think it has as much to do with getting people cared for in a broken healthcare system.
classify it as a disease and sudden healthcare insurance companies have to help educate and look after their customers, rather than just say client lifestyle"
Is how I understand the thinking behind the move.
As far as I'm concerned, obesity itself isn't a disease, it's a symptom of something else be it thyroid problems, mental health problems or just general laziness and over eating.
But yeah I have known people for whom it's variously tied up in delusion, low self esteem, depression, etc. Maybe in those cases it's a symptom rather than a disease?
+1
There are likely to be a number of factors that cause the condition. In some cases, it may well be a physical deficiency, overall my suspicions lie with sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, processed food stuffs and most importantly, the state of mind and an internal dis-ease with oneself and one's place in the world.
When I think back to my childhood in the 70's, there were very few overweight kids at my school's, compared to the number that seem to be waddling about now. Similarly, there very few overweight adults in comparison then too. Unless of course the popularity of mobility scooters has mean't they now get out more.
How much of it is down to a 'victim' mentality?
I think it has as much to do with getting people cared for in a broken healthcare system.classify it as a disease and sudden healthcare insurance companies have to help educate and look after their customers, rather than just say client lifestyle"
Is how I understand the thinking behind the move.
Or perhaps in the US, the pharmaceutical companies can sell "anti-obese pills"
After all, who donates large contributions towards political campaigns?
Is obesity really a disease?
NO
No, but you adjust your diet accordingly?
One of the symptoms is loss of appetite, I ate very little. My body is swollen with excess fluid.
cinnamon_girl this is difficult to say but I really don't think its a sizeable amount. Diabetes is on the increase, so is peoples wait due to lifestyle AND diet.
I've seen the figure of 2% of the population having a thyroid disorder. Many people are fine with the right meds. I have an uncommon type and self-medicate with drugs I buy from outside the UK. Despite a family history, I was not listened to by GPs.
No.
It's a symptom of an over active pie and beer arm.
Being an obese person myself who until only last week did nothing about it, I can say (for me) that lifestyle choices play a huge role in determine your size.
From a young age I've always been heavier than my peers. Always ate properly ie fresh chicken/rice/pasta/veg/fish etc but I have always eaten larger portions as I was always riding/swimming/boxing/Thai boxing/playing footy. I also did a lot of heavy lifting in the gym.
My downfall came with a change of job (gym instructor>bus/lorry driver) which led to long periods of being stationary but also still having the mindset that I needed large portions of food. This carried on even though my excercise became less and less. I realised that I was getting bigger and bigger but didn't really worry about it as I always used the excuse that I ate well so was still relatively fit. Anyway. Fast forward to last week, I went into town with the wife and youngest daughter and spotted myself in a shop window. Reality hit home. I was horrified to be honest. When I got home I weighed myself(last time I was 25st) and the scales read a whopping 27 1/2 stone or 173.5kg.
I immediately cut my bowl of Alpen out for breakfast
Also cut out my 2 ham salad rolls out that I usually ate for lunch and have cut my dinners down to smaller portions whilst stopping the intake of pasta completely.
Instead, I've taken up a plan from herbalife which replaces breakfast and dinner with shakes and small snacks in between( which I'd never had before so feels strange). This feels like I'm eating more but calorific intake is drastically down on before.
From being 27 1/2 st last Sunday night when I started to Sunday just gone I've lost 6 pounds without the chance for much excercise (work)
My aim is to drop to 17st initially and then see what I can do from there.
Just my 2p
Regards
Gary
I find it slightly uncomfortable to criticise people for a unhealthy sedentary lifestyle when most jobs are office based, and given the economy isn't particular great at the moment, lots of people are forced into longer commutes just to find work (this happened to me, cycling to work replaced by driving). Then with what little time people do have left they've got to shop/feed a family on a limited budget. I'm not that surprised many people turn to processed foods. Even stuff that looks healthy often has loads of fat/salt hidden in it. Every attempt by the government to make labelling clearer is blocked by the food industry lobbyists.
The "obese" label kicks in relatively quickly too, in fact, i'm technically obese according to this - http://www.nhs.uk/tools/pages/healthyweightcalculator.aspx - so this isn't the huge super fatties you see being cut out of their own houses.
I think its a symptom of modern lifestyle for most people.
Good luck, Gary... let us know how you get on.
