Split Opinions on Obesity as a Disease

An unhealthy and excessive quantity of bodily fat is known as obesity.Even though it impacts over 40% of Americans, the legitimacy of obesity as a medical condition is still up for grabs.

Long considered a self-inflicted health problem, in 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) joined other medical institutions and organizations in labeling obesity a chronic disease.At issue is whether or not obesity is a lifestyle-related condition that can be diagnosed and treated. Obesity is now considered an illness due to the serious health problems it causes and the numerous risk factors that contribute to it.

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.   

Obesity: A Diagnosable Disease Classified by BMI

Healthcare providers typically diagnose and describe obesity using body mass index (BMI), a measure of the fat composition of your body. Simply divide your weight in kilograms (kg) by the square of your height in meters to get your body mass index (BMI). According to this scale, there are four distinct categories of weight:

Brief History of Classifying Obesity 

In many parts of the world and throughout history, being overweight was seen as a sign of good health. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician who lived from 460 to 370 B.C., was the first to correlate obesity to an increased risk of disease and death.The criteria we use to define obesity have changed over 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. Neurological disorders are thought to result from a combination of environmental, genetic, biochemical, and behavioral factors, according to medical professionals.

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. There is a false stigma that links obesity with lack of motivation and discipline.

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

Causes: How Do People Develop Obesity?

Consuming more calories (energy) than your body requires to function is a major contributor to obesity. Triglycerides are stored as extra fats, carbs, alcohol, and protein in fatty tissue.

Fat, or adiposity, develops as a result of this buildup over time. Obesity can also be caused by lifestyle choices including what you eat and drink.

Environmental

How you live, work, and play all play a role in how much weight you ultimately gain. Obesity rates are higher in communities that lack amenities like walkability, parks, green spaces, and gyms as well as those where people of lower socioeconomic class have less access to fresh foods (food deserts).

Also at a higher risk are people who live in locations where fast food restaurants are plentiful, as well as those who live in rural areas or areas lacking sidewalks and bike lanes.

Genetic

Obesity risk is influenced by a number of factors, including genetics. Depending on the study, genes account for 40% to 70% of the variance in body mass index.

Obesity is influenced by around 50 different genes. Rarely, gene mutations, primarily in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), are the lone cause of obesity, a condition known as monogenic obesity.

Biological

How your brain and body handle hunger and energy expenditure are other contributing factors to being overweight. The hormone leptin, for instance, is made in adipose (fat) cells, 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 also influenced by one's way of life. A diet heavy in saturated fats, salts, and sweets adds to the illness, along with a lack of sleep or exercise, smoking, and alcohol intake.

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 contributes to weight gain associated with stress and other negative emotional states.