Is Obesity A Disease Or Not?

Hi Everyone,

How many extra pounds have you added to your already obese body over the past festive party season? Is your over weight due to over indulging in the wrong foods, or is it really a disease, or an addiction that's so hard to cure. Is obesity simply, the end result of years of addiction to sweet, sugary snacks, often used as comforters in times of stress.... So I ask the question "Is obesity a disease or not?"

 

I bet you didn't know this ...

 

Obesity...even being overweight... is a disease.

 

No, really, I'm not kidding.

 

At least that's what several social groups wish you to believe. "Suffers Of Obesity" is just one of those groups. Their entire stance is obesity (which, by the way, can be only 30lbs or so over your ideal bodyweight) is an actual disease, and should therefore be categorized as one. Of course fat people always claim they have something wrong with them, that's why they continue to be fat. On the other hand don't Anorexics believe they don't have a problem at all, and simply think they are fatter than they are? Quite confusing!

 

Well, is it?

 

Yes... and no.

 

Comedian Ricky Gervais has a hilarious go at this stance... that obesity is a disease. You sometimes have to laugh, you know?

 

"No... it's not a disease... it's greed. You just love to eat," or so Gervais believes.

 

Well, for 2010, a new decade with new ideas, I'm here to share a new idea with you:

 

     We really need to redefine some words.

 

One of those words is "disease".

 

Case-in-point:  Wikipedia.com defines disease...

 

"In human beings, "disease" is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes pain, dysfunction, distress,  social problems, and/or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems for those in contact with the person. In this broader sense, it sometimes includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms, deviant behaviours, and a typical variations of structure and function, while in other contexts and for other purposes these may be considered distinguishable categories."

 

Let's think about that.

 

If you bump your knee against a sharp object, is this a new disease called "bumpuskneeitis?"

 

Err... no. It's an accident. Sure, it may 'cause' a specific set of symptoms that could broadly (as in as broad as the back-side of a barn) be considered a "disease", but ... no.

 

It's an accident with biological consequences.

 

Social problems?  So, if I decide to read 17 books on why my parents suck as a teenager and develop anti-social behaviour, is this a "disease"?  NO!  This is the angst of youth combined,
perhaps, with poor parenting!  Sure, it can lead to mental issues that could be classified as "disease", but guess what?

 

It's totally within your control. No one force-fed the books to the teen. And no one is force-feeding you, or anyone you know.

 

That decision is yours and yours alone... and anyone, repeat ANYONE on the face of planet earth can change their behaviours and attitudes toward food.

 

Okay, some more thoughts on disease:

 

Let me give you a few examples of what is typically thought of as "disease"...

 

--- Leprosy
--- Cancer
--- Hypothyroidism

 

We'll just take three... there are thousands as you know.

 

Now, we can all agree that these three states represent true "disease". The first you could catch by accident; the second is a combination of genetics, environment, and who-knows-what-else, and the third is almost always genetic.

 

One, cancer, is something you 'may' be able to do something about. For example, lung cancer. 90% of lung cancer patients contract the disease from smoking.

 

Let's just cover these 90%, shall we?

 

And folks, I'm asking for an open mind here...

 

Is lung cancer, in the case of the 90%, REALLY a disease?

 

     Or is it a biological consequence?

 

Sure, "cancer" is a disease. But what caused it in this case? Something involuntary? Hardly.

 

Something that could not be stopped?

 

No way.

 

The 90% caused it. Period.

 

Welcome to the real world.

 

So, I propose this:  We redefine "disease" as an abnormal biological condition that we DO NOT have direct cause or effect over.

 

Airborne viruses: Disease.  Obesity: NOT a disease.

 

And yes, lung cancer in chain smokers:  NOT a disease; it's a biological outcome. The end result should be treated as a disease, of course, but come on: Where is the responsibility folks?

 

Life, if you want to live it fully and without fear, is ALL about taking total responsibility. That's empowerment. Anything less is... well, LESS.

 

In our example, lung cancer is no more a "disease" than, say, me hitting myself over the head with a hammer every day and causing brain damage, a disease.

 

Brain damage (not self-induced) = disease.

 

Brain damage caused by self-inflicted hammer-hitting = biological consequence. In this case of sheer stupidity!

 

Now, one could (and many will) make the argument that I had a "mental" disease that caused me to WANT to hit myself over the head with a hammer... but... well...

 

At this point we need to redefine the word "disease" in my opinion. Here's why:

 

First, if this were the case, I could say that all criminals have a disease.

 

They all have a mental disease that makes them want to kill, steal... you name it.

 

This may in fact BE true... we do not know... but do we hold them NOT responsible if it is?

 

No, we do not.

 

And that brings us back to obesity.

 

     Obesity and being overfat is not a disease folks... it's a biological consequence.

 

And, with the exception of the extremely 'rare' cases of total glandular dysfunction from birth, obesity... your bodyweight... is your responsibility.

 

Period. End of story.

 

Sorry, but that's the way the ball bounces.

 

Am I being mean? No. I was obese. I have a right to speak my mind about it, and trust me:  My depression (a disease... sorta... some genetic, but a lot of it was caused by eating too much
sugar) definitely aided in my obesity.

 

Then how come I'm not obese any more?

 

I found a better way to eat. I re-trained my body to crave this style of eating (and exercise) over stuffing myself with pizza and burgers every day.

 

So be brave. Be fearless. And be responsible.

 

Oh... and be sure not to catch "internetemailitis"... its a disease that causes you to want to check your email more than 10 times a day.

 

I have it. So be careful... may be contagious.

 

Then no "disease" can stop you... at least the ones that do not kill you.

 

So go for it... be brave, be responsible... and be lean!

Claim your FREE copy of Rob Poulos's "7 Secrets Of Permanent Fat Loss & Fitness" at his website: Get It Here

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Why not also watch this wonderful Yummy Mummy video FREE Watch It Here Exercises you can easily do at home

 

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