Is Obesity a Disease?
Is Obesity a Disease?
After a long day of work or school, we have the choice to prepare ourselves a healthy meal or to get something quick and easy from the drive-through or a quick microwaveable dinner. Many of us do not have the time, or just simply choose not prepare healthy meals or exercise and it shows in our waistline. From the abundance of fast food chains on every corner to television and video games it is no wonder why we are putting on extra pounds. Obesity is caused by an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle, but others are opposed to this view, claiming that obesity is a disease caused by genetics and other factors.
Before we can further examine this argument, we need to have a clear definition of obesity, which is “a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body”(Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary online). Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC), “for adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese”(CDC). Because the bmi calculation only uses weight and height, many people who donnot look excessively overweight may still be considered obese due to muscle weight, but reguardless whether one is on the borderline of being obese or if one’s bmi surpasses 40, he or she has a disease according to some views.
One may argue that obesity is a disease because, like any other disease, it can interfere with the body not functioning properly. An excess amount of fat tissues will cause the overproduction of bodily molecules and mediators which contribute to abnormal regulation of food consumption and energy levels (American Medical Association). As being a problem with genetics, Albert J. Stunkard, MD states that studies have proven that inheriting obesity is
After a long day of work or school, we have the choice to prepare ourselves a healthy meal or to get something quick and easy from the drive-through or a quick microwaveable dinner. Many of us do not have the time, or just simply choose not prepare healthy meals or exercise and it shows in our waistline. From the abundance of fast food chains on every corner to television and video games it is no wonder why we are putting on extra pounds. Obesity is caused by an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle, but others are opposed to this view, claiming that obesity is a disease caused by genetics and other factors.
Before we can further examine this argument, we need to have a clear definition of obesity, which is “a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body”(Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary online). Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC), “for adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese”(CDC). Because the bmi calculation only uses weight and height, many people who donnot look excessively overweight may still be considered obese due to muscle weight, but reguardless whether one is on the borderline of being obese or if one’s bmi surpasses 40, he or she has a disease according to some views.
One may argue that obesity is a disease because, like any other disease, it can interfere with the body not functioning properly. An excess amount of fat tissues will cause the overproduction of bodily molecules and mediators which contribute to abnormal regulation of food consumption and energy levels (American Medical Association). As being a problem with genetics, Albert J. Stunkard, MD states that studies have proven that inheriting obesity is