Why Is Obesity Considered A Disease

Americans today tend to believe that obesity is considered as a disease due to the statistical fact that America has been recently recorded as the second most obese country in the world. When it comes to the topic of obesity, most of us will readily agree that there is a large percentage of the country that is overweight and/or obese. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of if obesity is considered as a medical illness, in other words, a disease. Whereas some are convinced that obesity is identified as a disease due to the mental illness aspect, I maintain that it is not classified as a disease because it was conducted into a way of living. Specifically, in recent studies, it can be proven that America is the second …show more content…
Indeed, obesity does meet some requirements so it can be inferred as a disease. The American Medical Association House of Delegates refers to diseases as “‘an impairment of the normal functioning of some aspect of the body,’ ‘characteristic signs and symptoms,’ and ‘harm or morbidity.’” Each of one of the principles given can be matched up with obesity, however the argument given is not strong because there are many other conditions that are not classified as diseases that meet the same criteria. Also, Scott Kahan, Director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness and Preventative Medicine Physician at Johns Hopkins University, claims obesity "satisfies all the definitions and criteria of what a disease and medical condition is... The one difference is that people who have obesity have to wear their disease on the outside." Kahan’s argument is trying to prove that obesity can be defined as a disease according to the precedents given by the medical associations, and that this particular “disease” attacks the outside body more than it does on the …show more content…
From the recent statistics and facts mentioned previously, it is clear that methods to tackle American obesity has not been effective. Americans lack the ability to abolish obesity, therefore it cannot be seen as a disease. Obesity can be a “side effect” caused by more serious medical complications and syndromes. According to David S. Ludwig and Mark I. Friedman, (as well as Mayo Clinic) diseases such as Cushing 's syndrome, increased insulin levels and depression play a role in the lead to obesity. Also certain drugs and “lack of sleep” can help cause obesity as well. There are in fact many beliefs and proven statistics that those who are obese can live healthy, normal lives. These particular people have no signs of high blood pressure levels or diabetes, but in fact are seen as just overweight. The BMI (Body Mass Index) does not always direct people in the obesity range as physically impaired, these people are labeled as “healthy