Obesity is Not a Disease

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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.

In order for obesity to be a disease it would have to either impair the function of an individual and/or have distinguishable signs or symptoms. Obesity lacks the signs and symptoms associated with being a disease. The only sign is the presence of having excess fat, which, by definition, is obesity itself. To indicate if somebody is obese, a calculation taking height and weight into consideration is used to determine the persons’ body mass index (BMI). If the result is 30 or greater, the individual is considered obese. The BMI has a strong correlation with excess body fat, but does not directly measure it, making it an inaccurate assessment of health. Most people with a high BMI have no impairments and have no problems functioning on a day to day basis. In some extreme cases, a large quantity of excess fat can reduce mobility, but this is hardly the case for most obese individuals. With obesity rarely causing any sort of impairment in normal functioning it does not meet the standards of being a disease.

It is hard to deny that obesity is commonly attributed to the development of diseases such a...

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...ractices more available to people can have a very negative outcome. The positive results can be obtained solely through exercise and dieting which do not require a medical diagnosis.

Obesity is a growing concern in America because it puts people at risk of disease. Obesity does not fit the definition of a disease and can be readily prevented or controlled by diet and regular exercise. A person’s genetics may not always allow them to be at an ideal weight, but eating right and staying active will keep them healthy and decrease their risk developing obesity related diseases. The government’s recent push to see obesity as a disease is ineffective and may result in some negative repercussions. With the proper strategies and knowledge there is no limit to what size a person must be to live a full and completely functional life without being diagnosed with a disease.

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