Research Paper On Why Obesity Is Considered A Disease

Obesity is defined as a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduce life expectancy and/or increased health problems. “The problem of obesity is increasing in the United States. Understanding the impact of social inequalities on health has become a public health priority in the new millennium. Social, political, and economic factors now are acknowledged to be "fundamental" causes of disease that affect behavior, beliefs, and biology.” (Goodman, 2003)  In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3 decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. Obesity has not always been seen as a medical

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.

Since the 1980’s obesity rates have soared. Between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates doubled between adults and children. Twelve years later in 2012, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention estimated more than one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Being overweight is defined as having excess body weight from a combination of height, fat, and muscle. On the other hand, Obesity is simply having too much excess body fat. Being overweight and obese are the result of caloric imbalance. Society tends to consume more calories than calories expended. Obesity can lead to more serious medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. I believe that there are many causes of obesity, but there are just as much solutions for a healthier life.

Recently, a lot of debate has gone around about whether or not obesity is considered a disease or not. It is very difficult to pinpoint one sole reason obesity is occurring in people, there are many different justifications for what causes a person to become obese. Obesity is a disease that is currently sweeping the entire world. Percentages of not just adults, but children are skyrocketing like never before. People have never been so overweight until now. I am going to examine why obesity is considered a disease through a scientific, economic, historical, and futuristic lenses.

In order to identify a condition as a disease, it should fit certain criteria. One of the reasons that obesity is classified as a disease is because of its large comorbidity. Obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, musculoskeletal disorders and some cancers (Rossner, 2002). According to Rossner (2002), the death rate from all causes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other diseases increases among moderate and severe overweight men and women in all age groups. Therefore, obesity is

Genes control almost every aspect of human life, and when it comes to weight there is no exception. Little is known, however, how much of an individual’s genes actually control the weight of certain individuals. Body fat can vary from person to person, yet some people have always carried more weight than others. Often times, when one person is overweight in the family, most of the other individuals in the same family are overweight as well. However, more than just genetics can go into being overweight, and a person’s genes are not the end all be all of obesity. Many times the environment surrounding people who are obese contributes to the overall weight of the individual, and when obesity promoting genes are mixed

Obesity is a disease, yes it is a disease, obesity causes more health issues that people don't know obesity can cause like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and more, 2 out of 3 children in the United States is struggling of either being overweight or obese, several years in the united states no state has had an obesity rate over 15 % , but now times have changed , over 41 states have an obesity rate over 25%, this means that since 1981 the obesity rate has nearly tripled in the united states, “ people with obesity state that it is the government's fault for providing food that has no nutritional value in it”.

     Obesity is the net result of an excess of energy consumption over expenditure. Factors that must be considered as contributing to causation are: heredity, and altered metabolism of adipose tissue, the list goes on and on. Overeating is clearly a prominent contributor to obesity. Feeding behavior occurs in response to hunger and to appetite induced by the presence of food.

Dalton revisits the controversial issue of whether obesity should be declared a disease or not. In the author's opinion, obesity is not a disease. With that in mind, this book will offer a sound basis for my assertion that obesity cannot be regarded a disease but a contributing factor to ill health.

The epidemic of obesity has been a major problem in the United States and around the world since around the late 20th century. The United States ranks among the top most obese countries on the planet at around 35% of the population (Adult Obesity Facts). Recently, the American Medical Association (AMA) has officially recognized obesity as a disease (Fitzgerald). This decision in turn has caused a large amount of controversy and debate among professionals from different fields as to whether obesity should be considered a disease or not. Should obesity be considered a disease? Or should it be defined as strictly being a lifestyle choice? The proponents of labeling obesity a disease state various advantages in doing so. However, at the same time,

In 2008, the American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease claiming that “Recognizing obesity as a disease will help change the way the medical community tackles this complex issue that affects approximately one in three Americans,” said AMA board member Patrice Harris, M.D. While this may be true, is that a justifiable reason to classify obesity, a result of unhealthy decisions, as a disease? The fact is obesity is the consequence of choosing an unhealthy lifestyle. True the unhealthy lifestyle may not be chosen on purpose but “The choices we make by accident are just as important as the choices we make by design” – Anonymous. Therefore if obesity is a consequence of choices then I feel obesity itself has to be a choice,

The topic that I have chosen to look at is obesity. The aim of this topic is to find out whether “the ignorance of genetics as a contra factor of obesity”. I have chosen to look at this topic because obesity is concerns me. Obesity has always been a bid debate for a long time now and I was intrigued to find out more about the topic and the cause of obesity. The fact that obesity has made deadlines news in recent years. There are a lot of misconceptions about obesity such as overweight is caused by a sow metabolism. There have been a lot of beliefs and myths about obesity in society today and he above myths is on of them. According to Donnellan (1998) ‘ ‘people who are overweight have told their doctors that they eat no more and

Obesity is a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems. Obesity is not only being overweight. According to the The Campaign to End Obesity, obesity can be related to 60 different diseases. Heart disease, osteoarthritis, and diabetes are just some of the few deadly diseases you can develop. Obesity is common, serious, and costly. David Zinczenko, a writer for the The New York Times revealed in Don’t Blame the Eater today's cost for the treatment of diabetes adds up to a whopping amount of $100 billion a year(5). Sooner or later, Americans will find themselves in a life of painful finger pricks, insulin injections, and consistently suffering from restless nights caused by sleep apnea. Although obesity is complex, it does not discriminate. Men, women, children, and people of all nationalities can be affected.

Did you know that two- thirds of adults and one-thirds of children in the United States are obese or overweight? (USA Today) According to Webster, obesity is defined as condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body. Body Mass Index (BMI) person weight in kilogram divided by the square of a person’s height in meters. I view obesity as a life style disease that does not discriminate. Obesity is more prevalent today due to inactivity and poor eating habits. No one has to remain obese; with proper diet, exercise and life style changes the weight will come off and stay off. I am speaking from experience; I suffered from obesity at a very young age and it carried over into my adult life.

Obesity has caused great dilemma in America. It was known as an adult disease. “Over two thirds of adults are over weight or obese.”(Obesity, Jerry R Ballenttne) these numbers are increasing rapidly. Obesity is not just a appearance