Split Opinions on Obesity as a Disease

An unhealthy and excessive quantity of bodily fat is known as obesity.There is still much controversy about whether or not obesity is a disease, despite the fact that it affects slightly over 40% of the U.S. population.

For a long time, obesity was seen as something that people brought on themselves, but in 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially recognized obesity as a chronic disease.

At issue is whether or not obesity is an illness that can be diagnosed and treated, rather than a product of a person's own actions. Obesity is now considered an illness since it is linked to so many negative health outcomes.

This article provides an overview of obesity, including its description and classification, the risks of considering it as a matter of personal choice, its root causes, and the methods now used to treat and manage it. 

Controversy Over

However, there are serious caveats to using BMI. The American Medical Association changed its mind on this instrument in 2023, citing its age, flaws, and troubled past. This is because BMI ignores critical criteria including race/ethnicity, age, gender, and body composition when determining obesity risk.

The American Medical Association (AMA) suggests that doctors take BMI into account along with other indicators of obesity such waist size and body fat percentage.

Brief History of Classifying Obesity 

For a lot of people, a lot of the time, all across the world, being overweight was a sign of excellent health. Obesity, however, has been related to increased morbidity and mortality from various causes ever since the time of Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician who lived from 460 to 370 B.C.3 Our understanding of what constitutes obesity and how to categorize it has developed throughout time.

Conventional wisdom held that poor dietary habits and an inactive lifestyle were the sole causes of obesity. However, medical boards and other health bodies began treating obesity as a chronic condition once the WHO made that declaration in 1997. A variety of environmental, genetic, biochemical, and behavioral factors are thought to contribute to this group of neurological illnesses.

Obesity Stigma

The cultural zeitgeist is affected by the debate over whether obesity is a condition or an illness. There has been a growth in prejudice and generalizations about those who are overweight or obese in the United States. Incorrectly, being overweight is seen as a sign of laziness or lack of self-control.

Individuals who are overweight may internalize these biases and experience discrimination as a result. The stigma associated with it may cause people to eat more, not exercise, and suffer psychologically.

Some may think that by shaming somebody for being overweight, they might "pressure" them into reducing weight, however this may have unintended consequences. The treatment of obesity is hampered when it is seen as the result of a person's own actions rather than as a condition caused by environmental variables.

Causes: How Do People Develop Obesity?

When a person consumes more calories (energy) than their body uses, they become overweight. Excess calories from fats, carbs, alcohol, and protein are all stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue if they are not consumed.

Adiposity (also known as body fat) is the result of this buildup over time. The kinds of meals and beverages you consume can also play a role in making you overweight.

Environmental

Your surroundings have a powerful impact on your weight, influencing both your eating habits and your level of physical activity. Obesity rates have been found to be higher in places with lower incomes, a lack of access to fresh foods (food deserts, areas where healthy food is scare), and a lack of walkability, parks, green spaces, and gyms.

People living in locations with lots of fast food restaurants, people who work long hours, and people who live in rural areas or areas without sidewalks and bike routes are all at a higher risk.

Genetic

Your genetic makeup influences your risk for obesity in addition to environmental and lifestyle factors. Genes affect your metabolism and account for 40% to 70% of the weight variability, according to studies.

Obesity is associated with more than 50 genes. Monogenic obesity, wherein a single gene rather than multiple genes and environmental variables contribute to weight gain, occurs on extremely rare occasions and is typically caused by mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R).

Biological

How your brain and body handle hunger and energy expenditure are other contributing factors to being overweight. Adipose (fat) cells are responsible for producing the hormone leptin, and its activity has been linked to body weight. The thalamus in the brain is where this hormone, critical for maintaining energy balance, exerts its effects on hunger and fullness.

Behavioral

Obesity is exacerbated by a number of lifestyle factors. Saturated fats, salts, and sweets, along with a lack of sleep or exercise, smoking, and alcohol use, all contribute to the illness.

Both controllable and uncontrollable variables contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle; for example, consuming a lot of fast food or spending too much time in front of a screen. In addition, negative mental health influences eating and exercise habits, which can exacerbate stress and other negative emotional states.