Do you think Obesity is a disease? \ stacker news ~HealthAndFitness

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452 sats \ 25 comments \ @Coinsreporter 15 Jan HealthAndFitness

Type 'obesity' in your search browser and you'll find it as "chronic complex disease".

Well, I could somehow agree only with the first two terms but the last one "disease" for obesity blasted me. This definition for me was quite misleading.

But not for WHO!

Overweight is a condition of excessive fat deposits. Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

My reasoning tells me that it's NOT a disease!! It is a "condition". And it's an entirely voluntary condition for the vast majority. Just the same as smoking. Would you call a smoking habit a "disease"?

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49 sats \ 1 reply \ @frostdragon 15 Jan

I think the point you're getting at is - is it voluntary or not? Does the cure = making different life decisions?

For a lot of people, I would say yes, and I think it's problematic for those people to act like obesity is happening TO them.

That being said, there are other chronic conditions that makes maintaining a healthy weight incredibly difficult... Sometimes life is just harder in some ways for some people. It's still an individual's responsibility to make healthy decisions - both physically and emotionally/mentally. Sometimes maintaining reasonable/sustainable overall health might mean they don't kill themselves trying to avoid being overweight at all costs. I don't think that's the norm, though.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

I simply want to point out that it's a shame obesity is described as "Chronic Complex Disease".

It should be described as "A condition" that might lead to various diseases.

20 sats \ 2 replies \ @realBitcoinDog 15 Jan

Is there a cure?

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

~healthandfitness on SN.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @denlillaapan 15 Jan

Probs a vaccine

20 sats \ 4 replies \ @Undisciplined 15 Jan

Here's the definition of disease:

a condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms

There's nothing in it about being voluntary or self-inflicted. By my reading of the definition, obesity is a disease.

Smoking wouldn't be a disease, but the lung damage caused by it is.

40 sats \ 3 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

So, you mean obese people have "body or one of its parts that impair normal functioning."

Well I've a friend who is pretty much overweight but I who am normal weight can never think of winning against him in dancing and athletecism.

I think the definition is right but it doesn't make sense for obesity.

37 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 15 Jan

That's a good point, since obesity isn't defined around any particular misfunctioning of the body.

I agree with you that it's not a disease with how it's currently diagnosed. It's more of a comorbidity.

38 sats \ 1 reply \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

Comorbidity would be more insulting and fear arousing for our Obese friends.

Why can't we simply call it a condition?

Ok, here's another example to my argument.

Is poverty a disease?

No. But many people call it so.

Is addiction of anything in itself always a disease?

20 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 15 Jan

I think addiction might be, since it's a chemical physiological dependence. That implies abnormal functioning.

"Comorbidity" seems reasonable. Here's the definition:

In medicine, comorbidity refers to the simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions in a patient

This would only apply in cases of another medical condition, though, so I guess I'm agreeing with you that it's just a "condition".

20 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby 15 Jan

Obesity can be a symptom of another disease. There are chronic diseases that create hormonal imbalances and cause people to put on weight or not be able to lose weight but I don't think obesity itself is a disease.

40 sats \ 2 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

Do you agree that it's a voluntary condition? It's something that people can avoid, if they choose to?

20 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby 15 Jan

Not in all cases but in most cases. As mentioned there are some diseases that cause people to put on weight or not be able to lose weight. There are also diseases and injuries that limit people's ability to be physically active which can lead to obesity as a symptom. I don't think it is a disease.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

Not in all cases but in most cases

I get your point. There are some diseases like Thyroid that can lead to obesity but then Thyroid is the disease not Obesity.

I also think the pharma con machine is running this Obesity Disease, smoking disease, Alcohal disease propoganda.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @mrsu 16 Jan

I don't think obesity is voluntary. Nobody chooses to be fat. We live in a world where food scientists engineer foods to be as addictive as possible and make them available at very low prices. Couple that with our evolutionary programming to seek out calories, and you have a recipe for disaster.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @PictureRoom 16 Jan

Jack Kruse would have a lot to say here. In a phrase; Incorrect light consumption leads to impairment of proper metabolism.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bit_Alb 15 Jan

Obesity itself may not be a disease. However, uncontrolled eating may reflect some psychological disorders.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @denlillaapan 15 Jan

No.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 15 Jan

it's NOT a disease!! It is a "condition"

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @NovaRift 15 Jan

I saw the comments 😂, you really got people talking! Just so you know, obesity is a disease, not just weight gain, and it comes with a lot of health issues.

Bonus fact: the word "disease" itself means 'discomfort and lack of ease'.

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

Bonus fact: the word "disease" itself means 'discomfort and lack of ease'.

There are many fat people who don't have discomfort and any sort of lack of ease. That's why Obesity is not a disease. 🙏

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @NovaRift 15 Jan

I hear you, but this isn't accurate. Over time, obese people have a much higher risk of developing arthritis, heart disease, and it's undeniable that they experience a lack of ease in performing lot of tasks.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

So, it's a symptom.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 15 Jan

I don't think the semantics really matters. Either way, it leads to problems that need to be addressed. Whether it's brought about by voluntary or involuntary processes, a good doctor should be able to identify the root cause and help the patient address the root cause and manage symptoms.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter OP 15 Jan

I don't think the semantics really matters.

It matters to the big pharma industry. If they don't put these misleading labels, they would lose a big chunk of their sales.