Calls to recognise obesity as a disease

Being a somewhat avid news viewer, a particular story has made me ponder a little bit. The item was about the call for obesity to be reclassified as a disease. Basically, the experts are saying that obesity will not properly be tackled until it is recognised as a disease, however, others say that this could be dangerous. Already I have to agree on one of these sentiments; tackling an obese individual would, indeed, be dangerous.

So the news item continued with the Royal College of Physicians claiming that obesity should be recognised as a disease, rather than a lifestyle choice. Unless this is established then, well, sadly it will likely increase.

President of the RCP, Andrew Goddard, said: "We've come to realise obesity isn't a lifestyle choice - it's something people have a genetic predisposition to and it depends on the environment that we live." (What? Like inside of Willie Wonka's chocolate factory?) He further added, "Recognising it as a disease allows people to see they have a disease and reduces the stigma of having obesity."

According to the World Health Organisation, 30% of adults in the UK are obese and that number has ballooned since 1980, making the UK the fattest country in western Europe. Sobering statistics from the NHS Digital show the health service spends around £6bn a year treating people who have consumed too much dinner. The condition of obesity has resulted in more than 30,000 deaths each year.

An obese lady called Sarah, fully supports the calls for the reclassification of obesity as a disease, insisting her weight is not down to a lack of will power or a lifestyle choice. Her argument was added to by stating that five years ago she took part in a very tough training programme, Living's Fat: The Fight Of My Life. Taking part in this TV show helped her to shed a massive eight stone of  jello. However, on admitting she was of course happier as a result, the happiness did not last. Sarah divulged that she has had phases when she has lost significant amounts of blubber and had thought that was the answer, but for reasons only known to her, it wasn't. Failing to explain why - Sarah states that "Too many people look at other people who are overweight or obese and think that it's their fault, that they made the choice to be like this, obesity is something that has happened to me! (Presumably food forced itself into her mouth repeatedly)

A professor from somewhere in London who specialises in obesity research agrees with Sarah, saying that obesity is a chronic, progressive disease. She believes that classing it as such is the only way to treat the cause rather than the consequences of the obesity crisis in the UK. Making a rather interesting point, the professor claimed that once a person has developed obesity it's almost impossible to lose that weight and keep it off. The body will do all it can to go back to the highest weight you've ever reached.

Another expert, a Mr. David Buck doesn't agree with Sarah and the professor, saying that the classification isn't necessary and risks over-medicalising what is a lifestyle choice for  many. "Obesity isn't a disease, it's a condition, an outcome (of stuffing your face) Mr. Buck candidly admitted that he was slightly overweight, not because he had a fat disease - but because of the environment he lives in, the choices he makes (eating the wrong foods). Concluding that he doesn't buy Sarah’s and the professor's rhetoric whatsoever.

Dr Fiona Gillison, from the University of Bath said: "The idea of obesity as a disease has got some advantages in terms of treatment and taking the issue more seriously (like we do on this blog). It can, though, be problematic for those who aren't heavily obese, but  are still, you know, somewhat swollen, as it can medicalise what is actually a normal experience for most of us and being physically active is something we all would want to do as part of daily life.

Demola, TCC