Obesity is not a personal weakness. Perhaps it's a disease?

Member

Interesting article.... I fear even worse medical benefits from my (corporate) employer if they begin to treat obesity as a normal illness.

U.S. News: Maybe obesity is not a personal weakness. Perhaps it's a disease(2/9/04):
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/040209/health/9obesity.htm

Gone Fishin

I have a hard time with the biological argument. It just seems so much to me more toward a psychological problem.

For instance, the biggest guy I know grew up in family where food was scarce and he often went without. Him and his siblings are now all overweight/obese. I seriously believe the fear of hunger drives his eating decisions 24/7.

Food is so glorified in our culuture... tv commercials, restaurants galore, convenient junk everywhere. Again, just my opinion, but I think many people need to be re-programmed to be able to live with hunger pains as a normal body sense. And to be able to ignore/learn new strategies to avoid the cultural sways of junk/monster servings and such.

Of course I believe exercise it the silver bullet, but that aside.. food therapists should be the hot careers of the 21s century.

Member

Pyromaniac

If they start considering obesity a disease here at work then we got a lot of sick people.

I agree with jrjo, being overweight is more a psychological problem than a physical one in the majority of cases. People do know what they have to do to drop weight and keep it off. For whatever of a variety of reasons they don't do it.

My parents are both overweight and my siblings and I have struggled with the issue somewhat. None of the kids have had serious weight issues but all four of us have done something to win the battle of the bulge. A quality diet and some form of exercise has worked for each of us. My parents, on the other hand, thought that golf was exercise and paid little if any attention to diet. My dad, on doctors orders, is now pursuing a weight loss program although he still refuses to exercise. My mom has become a relentless walker and will get her walk in no matter the weather. She has made some excellent progress and I'm hoping like hell some of it rubs off on the old man.

your favorite weapon

i know genetics play a factor, but that's horsepoop if they say it's a disease.

if you're chubby, hey what can you do, but to get that large? it's not like it's an addiction.

i got more thoughts on this that i'll post later (i'm in class)

Oompa Loofah

I have debated whether or not to weigh in (npi), and reason lost.

First of all, blue, for some people IT IS an addiction. Just like booze, just like money, just like sex. They can't get enough and will do whatever it takes to get it. At some point, reason and logic quit and the drive just continues.

Second, I don't believe being overweight, per se, is a disease, but I believe it is every bit as serious as anorexia/bulimia. It is every bit the eating disorder those are. In the seriously overweight and underweight, death is the final outcome.

Third, I believe that 99% of the obese population wants to lose weight. Yes, granted, some are lazy. But others have no idea how to even begin exercising. Really. They have never been taught and don't even know how to begin. Remember that these people did not purposely set out to be fat. They didn't sit down at one meal and say, "boy, I'd love to weigh so much that people make fun of me and so much that I can't find any clothes in my size!!! I can't wait for that day!

Fourth, some people, namely teenage boys, are born with these ultra-fast metabolisms that burn calories despite doing nothing. Other people's metabolisms refuse to burn calories despite twice/three times the output.
So, realize that genetics do come into play somewhat.

And before you judge someone who is obese, please consider that many, many, many of them are fighting an invisible past you do not see. Many obese women are trying to self medicate against the pain of molestation, rape, physical abuse. They realize that their physical image (ie looking good) got them the attention that got them raped/molested, so by gum, they are never going to let that happen again. Many feel they have nothing to live for, so what does it matter what they look like, what they eat? And worse, it becomes a vicious cycle, like drugs and alcohol, you have a little, you feel bad, you have more, you figure you've already failed, what's the point now? So, they continue.

I realize that some in this thread weren't being judgmental, but I ask from refraining from generalizing about obese people.

We have members of this board who at one time or another were considered obese, so please think of that before you generalize.

your favorite weapon

airehead - you're right. i don't mean to generalize, i hope it doesn't sound that way.

i know genetics is a factor (metabolism wise, and in other ways too), and i know that some people would eat for the same reason that anorexics wouldn't eat. and it is definately a concern with regards to death.

you're also right that it's highly unlikely anyone ever said "i wanna be real big and get laughed at" and started eating.

and yes, they might have a past too.

my thing is - i don't buy that as the case for the vast majority of people. i can't imagine that the entire nation got fat because they were all unhappy, or have genetics to deal, or just can't stop eating.

there are 4 mcdonalds within a five minute drive from my house. they have a big sign that says "$1.69McDeal everyday". that doesn't count the A&W's, BK's, KFC's, or Wendy's.

that's a huge problem. most restaurants are realizing that and are introducing their lighterchoices meals and all that, which is a definate start.

the other huge problem is the number of people that sit around and do nothing. all the kids playing pokemon and video games all day, are going to get chubby with their mcdonalds happy meals.

and i would imagine too that almost all obese people want to lose weight. and tremendous kudos to those that do. but the people that come through our drivethru and order the xl 4/4 coffees, you can't help but think how can you do that to your body?

but in all fairness that maybe there isn't enough education on this. but i would not believe anyone that told me the honestly thought that a Big Mac was good for them.

it's not new news that if you exercise and watch what you eat, you can lose weight. it's not even about looking good, it's about being healthy and feeling good.

society needs to take a lot more responsibility to what they've done to themselves, take a step back and realize "hey we need to fix this".

what would be wrong with selling a happy healthy nation? given the ways things are, i'm sure that would be a booming industry too. i don't see the point in couping everyone up all day in front of their tvs with their fast food. that's not happiness to me.

i think though that to label it a disease - is a huge mistake. society doesn't need a cop out like that. the only disease is the consumerism that's brainwashing people to eat, spend, and live like they do.

to the people themselves, they can be victims, but at what point are they going to sit back and try to help themselves? i can't imagine how hard it would be to successfully pull off losing all that weight, but i can't imagine how you could just give up and not try. i just don't understand that.

the whole world doesn't need to be thin, but i think they should be healthy. and last time i checked obese isn't healthy.

some people just need some exercise, to cut out the mcdonalds, and take care of themselves. that's not the case for everyone, but i think it's definately the case for most.

Oompa Loofah

your favorite weapon

airehead - i have compassion for all people that have problems in their life and that are unhappy. my victims comment was directed at those people that hold mcdonalds responsible.

any person who is unhappy, fighting a past, or anything like that. i feel for them. there is alcoholism in my family. i don't deny that that's a problem.

but i don not have compassion for the people that just got fat because they didn't exercise. just like i don't have much compassion for all the people that sleep around and then complain when they get HIV or something. i feel bad for them and all, i don't say they deserve it by any means, but seriously some people need to take responsibility.

that's all i'm saying. please don't think i'm not a sensitive person Wink

Former FFL Champion

I think you're both dead sexay when ya' squabble like that

Oompa Loofah

Member

I gotta agree with Blue on this one. yup there are those with valid reasons. but not all 64% of the population. As far as education goes, i wasn't born with this knowledge were you? if ya want to lose weight there is NO magic way, no easy way and nothing technicaly difficult. With the internet SO prevalent, between work and school and local libraries you realy do not have to have a computer at home to look this info up anymore.

It's all over the morning shows, news special investigative reporting on the local newses. for the most part the condition of obesity is a outwardly visible sign of laziness OR apathy.

I know my opinions go against some of those here, and they are not PC either but......my opinion

Member

Should anorexia be covered under medical insurance as a disease?

Member

Member

I don't understand your point shelee. Food manufacturers are just like any other business. They want to sell more product to make their business owners more profitable. I guess what I'm getting at... Is Food different then any other (potential) vice (alcohol, gambling, smoking, etc.)?

Obesity is not a personal weakness. Perhaps it's a disease?

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