Support NeoGAF

[MjFrancis]

"Obesity Is a Disease” - Examining the Self-Regulatory Impact of This Public-Health Message
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/25/4/997.abstract

In the current work, we examined the impact of the American Medical Association’s recent classification of obesity as a disease on weight-management processes. Across three experimental studies, we highlighted the potential hidden costs associated with labeling obesity as a disease, showing that this message, presented in an actual New York Times article, undermined beneficial weight-loss self-regulatory processes. A disease-based, relative to an information-based, weight-management message weakened the importance placed on health-focused dieting and reduced concerns about weight among obese individuals—the very people whom such public-health messages are targeting. Further, the decreased concern about weight predicted higher-calorie food choices. In addition, the disease message, relative to a message that obesity is not a disease, lowered body-image dissatisfaction, but this too predicted higher-calorie food choices. Thus, although defining obesity as a disease may be beneficial for body image, results from the current work emphasize the negative implications of this message for self-regulation.

If obesity is a disease, then it follows that your weight gain is not your own responsibility - it is something that happens to you, and not something that comes of own free will. No different than weather patterns or heart beats - things that you wield no control over. Self image improves at the cost of continued overeating when obesity is perceived as a disease. Perception is aggravating obesity - do you need anymore evidence that if it's a disease at all, it's one of the mind and not the body?

So while the AMA's reclassification opened up treatment options for obesity, it's had some unintended - though perhaps predictable - consequences. I'm interested in criticism of this study's methodology or even the labeling of obesity as a disease or disorder and how that has changed your perception of it.

 

[News Bot]

I really can't agree that it's a disease. It's a lifestyle failure, not something you catch (unless there is a genuine medical reason, like that "never full" condition).

 

[thesoapster]

I really can't agree that it's a disease. It's a lifestyle failure, not something you catch (unless there is a genuine medical reason, like that "never full" condition).

In which case, I'd think obesity would be considered more of a symptom than a disease itself.

 

[thekonamicode]

I really can't agree that it's a disease. It's a lifestyle failure, not something you catch (unless there is a genuine medical reason, like that "never full" condition).

A disease does not just have to be something transmitted from another person. Behavioral issues are a disease.

 

[Volimar]

In which case, I'd think obesity would be considered more of a symptom than a disease itself.

I'd argue that obesity is usually a symptom or side effect of other factors anyway.

 

[Toadette]

It's a lifestyle failure

this is so true you can choose to be unhealthy or healthy

 

[Zozz]

this is so true you can choose to be unhealthy or healthy

yeah, no.

 

[ComputerMKII]

If obesity is a disease, then it follows that your weight gain is not your own responsibility

I don't get it. This is like saying that alcoholism isn't a disease.

 

[Phobophile]

If alcoholism can be considered a disease, why not also obesity? If it's as easy as taking personal responsibility, then surely alcoholism shouldn't be a disease.

 

[zychi]

obesity isnt a disease.

i chose to get fat from drinking, sitting on my ass all day and eating terrible.

i now choose to keep my weight and mirin in check.

 

[Darklord]

Calling it a disease would just encourage obese people to use it as an excuse. "I can't lose weight, it's a disease!". No, it's eating disgusting shit and not exercising. I was obese at 122kg and lost 40kg. That's about 90lbs I lost. I ate poorly, never exercised. It's fucking hard to push yourself into a lifestyle change, you have to REALLY want it but it's worth it. I can't imagine being that fat again. I never had a disease.

 

[Opiate]

"Obesity Is a Disease” - Examining the Self-Regulatory Impact of This Public-Health Message
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/25/4/997.abstract

If obesity is a disease, then it follows that your weight gain is not your own responsibility - it is something that happens to you, and not something that comes of own free will. No different than weather patterns or heart beats - things that you wield no control over. Self image improves at the cost of continued overeating when obesity is perceived as a disease. Perception is aggravating obesity - do you need anymore evidence that if it's a disease at all, it's one of the mind and not the body?

So while the AMA's reclassification opened up treatment options for obesity, it's had some unintended - though perhaps predictable - consequences. I'm interested in criticism of this study's methodology or even the labeling of obesity as a disease or disorder and how that has changed your perception of it.

It's important to note that this is independent of whether the classification is accurate; it's only a dissection of what effects it has on behavior.

It may be perfectly valid to refer to something as a disease, while observing that this label may negatively affect someone's attitude or behavior.

 

[Emerson]

The fundamental problem with this whole debate is that almost nobody has an accurate understanding of what the term disease means. Is alcohol related cirrhosis not a disease? What about STDs? All could be described as "lifestyle failures." There are plenty of diseases that can be self-inflicted.

On the one hand, medically, I don't really know how you can deny that obesity is a disease. I'm also fully aware that people do withdraw into "I have a disease" as validation and to externalize their issues. So I feel the same resistance as many here.

 

[Opiate]

obesity isnt a disease.

i chose to get fat from drinking, sitting on my ass all day and eating terrible.

i now choose to keep my weight and mirin in check.

This really isn't true. People do not chose to be fat in any meaningful sense. I strongly believe people have a hugely inflated sense of free will, beyond any plausible neurological definition of the term.

This is, again, independent of whether the illusion of choice is beneficial; I'm only making it clear that it is an illusion.

 

[slit]

It MAY be a disease. Everytbody keeps thinking people are trying to classify it as a disease like cancer. There are sometimes psycological aspects to people's food addiction. It not always so black and white as lifestyle choices.

 

[Surface of Me]

I could see it being one. I assume most people these days are obese because their parents are and fed them that way growing up, can be hard to break out of that.

 

[John Kowalski]

This merely comments on the societal impact of changing the nomenclature, not necessarily on whether defining obesity as a disease is indeed correct or incorrect.

 

[Petrie]

For the vast majority of obese people it isn't a disease. Unfortunately many latch onto the idea that their condition is a disease because it is possible for a small number of individuals that it is actually a disease. This has a net negative effect on society as this seems to be further evidence of.

Chances are if you're obese it isn't a disease, it's you choosing to be.

 

[Zozz]

We don't have free will either, we just live under the illusion that we do. Anything we do isn't really our choice.

 

[zychi]

This really isn't true. People do not chose to be fat in any meaningful sense. I strongly believe people have a hugely inflated sense of free will, beyond any plausible neurological definition of the term.

This is, again, independent of whether the illusion of choice is beneficial; I'm only making it clear that it is an illusion.

so when you go to the grocery store, and decide to buy a big ass box of ho hos, doritos and that case of coke, instead of chicken, veggies and water. thats a neurological issue?


when you choose to sit at home, watching reality tv show #239 instead of taking a walk everyday, thats a disease?

versus someone who got cancer, an actual disease.

 

[CrazyDude]

We don't have free will either, we just live under the illusion that we do. Anything we do isn't really our choice.

Then whose choice is it? Gods? If we do have free will and do not choose anything then someone else must be choosing for us.

If we do not have free will to choose what we do, then can we blame someone for murder and other crimes? They have don't have control, so why punish them for it?

 

[Darklord]

It MAY be a disease. Everytbody keeps thinking people are trying to classify it as a disease like cancer. There are sometimes psycological aspects to people's food addiction. It not always so black and white as lifestyle choices.

I think people can be hooked on food, especially greasy fatty foods but it's as much of a disease as someone who needs 2 cups of coffee a day. You just gotta have the will to break it, it's not a heroin addiction where you can literally die from the withdrawals.

 

[Opiate]

so when you go to the grocery store, and decide to buy a big ass box of ho hos, doritos and that case of coke, instead of chicken, veggies and water. thats a neurological issue?

Correct.

when you choose to sit at home, watching reality tv show #239 instead of taking a walk everyday, thats a disease?

It isn't a choice, at least. It's difficult to say whether these actions impair normal biological function, which is a technically required component of disease.

 

[Delicious Waffles]

Calling it a disease would just encourage obese people to use it as an excuse. "I can't lose weight, it's a disease!". No, it's eating disgusting shit and not exercising. I was obese at 122kg and lost 40kg. That's about 90lbs I lost. I ate poorly, never exercised. It's fucking hard to push yourself into a lifestyle change, you have to REALLY want it but it's worth it. I can't imagine being that fat again. I never had a disease.

Totally agree with this and I was in the same boat. Lost over 60 lbs. a few years ago. You have to really want to lose the weight, putting yourself in that mentality and developing the willpower, for it to happen. This "obesity is a disease" statement is just an excuse. You can choose whether or not you want to lose the weight.

 

[jmdajr]

Always saw it as a bad habit that led to disease. I know some people have problems and get fat no matter what they do, but most of it is choice.

Now if people want to view it as a psychological disease that converts into physical disease...I guess I have no issue with it. Whatever is the cause, get help. You shouldn't just live with it.

 

[TheWarrior]

what about looking swole and having Greek God aesthetics, is that also a disease?

 

[slit]

I think people can be hooked on food, especially greasy fatty foods but it's as much of a disease as someone who needs 2 cups of coffee a day. You just gotta have the will to break it, it's not a heroin addiction where you can literally die from the withdrawals.

No, being "hooked on it" does not always mean a physical addiction. It can be used as an emotional crutch for some. It may be a side effect of deeper psychological issues.

 

[kehs]

If obesity is a disease, then it follows that your weight gain is not your own responsibility - it is something that happens to you, and not something that comes of own free will. No different than weather patterns or heart beats - things that you wield no control over. Self image improves at the cost of continued overeating when obesity is perceived as a disease. Perception is aggravating obesity - do you need anymore evidence that if it's a disease at all, it's one of the mind and not the body?

The fuck?

People with diabetes don't just die cause they want a snickers bar. They make sure they don't have sugar.

 

[jmdajr]

what about looking swole and having Greek God aesthetics, is that also a disease?

Well it took Ultimate Warrior early

 

[The Technomancer]

I think people can be hooked on food, especially greasy fatty foods but it's as much of a disease as someone who needs 2 cups of coffee a day. You just gotta have the will to break it, it's not a heroin addiction where you can literally die from the withdrawals.

...well....you can

 

[News Bot]

A disease does not just have to be something transmitted from another person. Behavioral issues are a disease.

Behavioral issues would be walking the line with mental illness. I wouldn't call making the choice between a hamburger and a sandwich a "behavioral issue." Addiction would be more what you're looking for. But obesity would be a symptom of it, not a disease in itself.

IMO, of course.

 

[Kyuur]

I am a little tired of the characterization of every change in a person's being being labelled as a 'disease' or 'disorder'. Chemistry makes us up, and I have no doubt that these changes are brought about by certain things in the brain, but the passing off of responsibility due to these labels is disturbing. That person can't help that he's an asshole, that person can't help that he has gotten so fat and is now having heart problems, that person can't help that he drinks constantly and beats his children.

I would have no problem with label problems as such if society can get rid of the 'there is something in the background causing this so the person can't be held responsible'.

 

[God Dayumm]

If obesity is a disease, then it follows that your weight gain is not your own responsibility - it is something that happens to you, and not something that comes of own free will. No different than weather patterns or heart beats - things that you wield no control over.

AIDS is a disease and not contracting or spreading it is your own responsibility and under your control as well. But shit can go wrong and people don't deserve to be shunned for it.

If a person knows he or she is prone to gain weight easily, then it's their responsibility to take adequate measures. But they don't deserve to be shamed if they fail, they need treatment.

 

[zychi]

Correct.



It isn't a choice, at least. It's difficult to say whether these actions impair normal biological function, which is a technically required component of disease.

so when i was 22 and had a bmi that was overweight, it had nothing to do with me drinking or eating terribly at college. it's entirely a disease that developed in my brain.

so, after college, when i decided to go back to the gym, and participate in sports, cut the drinking to a minimum and eat healthier foods. i got rid of a disease? so essentially i cured a disease?

can i get a medical award or some medical insurance money for the year i had a disease from eating like a slob and curing it myself?

 

[Opiate]

Calling it a disease would just encourage obese people to use it as an excuse. "I can't lose weight, it's a disease!". No,

I agree. Does that make it not true?

We have to distinguish here between whether something is technically accurate and whether that technical accuracy produces beneficial behavior.

Let's say I could prove unequivocally that free will didn't exist. The stimulus response to this knowledge in many humans might be to become depressed and listless, and to sit on their couches and do nothing because they have no control over their lives anyway so why bother.

As such, you can reasonably state that the response by most humans to this knowledge was deeply negative. Does that mean the knowledge suddenly isn't true? No, of course not. Sometimes knowledge depresses people or makes them engage in non-constructive behaviors.

Now apply this same basic idea to the situation at hand, just on a smaller, more subtle scale.

 

[dan2026]

Using the term 'disease' seems wrong to me.

How does getting fat due to your own laziness and negligence put you under the same umbrella as someone who is fighting cancer or tuberculosis?

That doesn't seem right.

 

[justjustin]

That's interesting to me. From my perspective, labeling something as a disease implies that it is a danger to one's health and requires treatment. Whether or not you "choose" to be obese makes no difference of the fact that you need to change your life to overcome it.

Or so I think, but when it comes to obesity the trend in thinking seems to be the opposite of this? Maybe calling it a disease shocks some people into just accepting they can't do anything about it.

 

[Zozz]

Then whose choice is it? Gods? If we do have free will and do not choose anything then someone else must be choosing for us.

If we do not have free will to choose what we do, then can we blame someone for murder and other crimes? They have don't have control, so why punish them for it?

We are the totality of unconscious decisions, there's a presumption of ownership over every thought we have, these thoughts exist before we're even aware of them, we only think we are creators.

 

[Opiate]

Using the term 'disease' seems wrong to me.

How does getting fat due to your own laziness and negligence put you under the same umbrella as someone who is fighting cancer or tuberculosis?

That doesn't seem right.

I think the important thing here is to realize that these are classifications by neurologists and psychologists, not laymen. Very few people in related medical science fields believe that obesity is a consequence of personal laziness.

 

[jmdajr]

Again, saying "it's not my fault because xyz", is no excuse to not do something about it.

 

[Darklord]

No, being "hooked on it" does not always mean a physical addiction. It can be used as an emotional crutch for some. It may be a side effect of deeper psycological issues.

Of course food is used as an emotional crutch. I used it as that. I was bullied a lot at school and ate. When I lost my weight I had to change eating into exercising. Now when I get pissed off or stressed I go for a walk, I don't dive into the fridge. In life you have to change things, it can be hard, stressful, a challenge, but you have to do it. A third of Americans is not suffering from deep rooted psychological issues. Some? Sure. Not that high though. Many would use it as an excuse.

 

[News Bot]

The flip side would be the "I have a high metabolism" excuse to being skinny when you eat like two meals a day.

 

[TheWarrior]

Well it took Ultimate Warrior early

There probably is a sickness to some extent. At least Warrior and Rude gave us this great moment in aesthetics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAVgdODTCug&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Alcoremortis]

There are some people who actually do have a genetic disease that causes obesity. Some people have some abnormality that causes them to produce less leptin, which is a hormone that tells your brain to stop eating. These people tend to end up obese because they never "feel full" or it takes far longer for them to feel full than a physiologically normal person.

 

[demon]

Aside from people with thryroid issues or whatever, I have a real hard time buying this. I'd be more inclined to buy that it's the physical effect of a mental/food disorder.

 

[Majine]

The only thing obese people have in common with diseases is that they are easy to catch.

 

[Emerson]

I think the important thing here is to realize that these are classifications by neurologists and psychologists, not laymen. Very few people in related medical science fields believe that obesity is a consequence of personal laziness.

Pretty big distinction between physicians/medical professionals and neuroscientists/lab geeks. About 99% of physicians would absolutely describe most people's issues in lay terms e.g. "Get your shit together."

 

[FriedConsole]

If obesity is a disease, then it follows that your weight gain is not your own responsibility - it is something that happens to you, and not something that comes of own free will. No different than weather patterns or heart beats - things that you wield no control over. Self image improves at the cost of continued overeating when obesity is perceived as a disease. Perception is aggravating obesity - do you need anymore evidence that if it's a disease at all, it's one of the mind and not the body?

No. Something labeled as a disease does not mean that. Where did you get that crap? AIDS is a disease which you have control over unless you were born with it. Brain damage caused by me slamming head against the wall is in my control.

Look some people are born with a genetic predisposition to be fat but it doesn't mean there is no control. Yeah there are diseases that make you fat with no control. But the word disease = no control is bull shit.

A disease is an abnormal condition that affects the body of an organism.

 

[Opiate]

Again, saying "it's not my fault because xyz", is no excuse to not do something about it.

I agree, but people certainly treat it as such.

I again insist that we separate what may be true from the reality that truth sometimes causes people to behave badly.

As another, very broad example, I think it's reasonable to say that some people would be considerably more selfish or more violent or more cruel if they were offered clear, absolute proof that God didn't exist. Maybe God does exist; that's not my point. My point is that independent of whether God actually exists or not, it is clear that the belief he exists has affects on how people behave.

Similarly, science is finding deep, subconscious neurological underpinnings of obesity that may reasonably define the condition as a disease. Independent of this fact, it is possible that classifying obesity as a disease (whether it is scientifically accurate or not) may have negative affects on people's behavior.

 

[slit]

Of course food is used as an emotional crutch. I used it as that. I was bullied a lot at school and ate. When I lost my weight I had to change eating into exercising. Now when I get pissed off or stressed I go for a walk, I don't dive into the fridge. A third of Americans is not suffering from deep rooted psychological issues. Some? Sure. Not that high though. Many would use it as an excuse.

Well, there is no way to know what the exact numbers are. I can tell you as someone who also lost a lot of weight from eating right and exercising, that I don't look down on someone as automatically "out of control and lazy" if they're obese. My situation and theirs may be totally different.