The American Medical Association recently labeled obesity a disease. While obesity is certainly a risk factor for particular diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, it should not be labeled a disease in and of itself. Obesity is determined by calculating an individual’s Body Mass Index which takes into consideration mass and height. Due to carrying a healthy amount of muscle, some individuals in our Farmingdale personal training program might be considered “obese” although they are perfectly healthy. Others do display symptoms from carrying around excess body fat but it is a flawed indicator.
The main reason why obesity should not be called a disease is because although there are genetic factors, lifestyle choices play a large role. We all make choices each day and for the most part, we reap what we sow. If we decide to eat high sugar and high fat meals, we may pay the price with poor health. Classifying obesity as a disease will cause some people to not take responsibility for their daily choices. Most obese people don’t exercise. Instead, now that they consider themselves diseased, they will rely on “quick fixes” such as surgery and weight loss drugs. While these other options have their place, the reality is that nothing burns fat like physical exercise.
There is a man in my neighborhood that was morbidly obese. At one point last year he made a decision that he didn’t want to live that way anymore. He started walking a bit each day. Slowly but surely he began losing weight. He eventually began walking farther and faster. You wouldn’t have noticed any difference in him from one day to the next. If you saw him after a few weeks or even months, you may have thought he looked the same. However, if you compared him year over year, you’d be amazed. He didn’t even have to do anything that strenuous. It started with a choice and a change in attitude. Then he began taking incremental steps toward his ultimate goal. He now has the satisfaction of knowing he did it without any costly surgery or medications. There are a lot of side effects and complications that can occur with surgery or medication. I defy any program out there to produce results like of Farmingdale personal training program.
Those that agree will calling Obesity a disease feel that doing so will bring more positive attention to a monumental problem. They think doctors will be able to better help their patients. Personally, I feel this will only cause too many people to spend unnecessary money. I don’t believe this will cause people’s waist lines to shrink. I do foresee fattening of bank accounts of medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies.
In a sense, this is a complicated matter. It’s hard to cleanly place people in certain categories when it comes to these issues. What we need is more education and more people taking responsibility for their actions.
*Thank you for reading! Please send any comments you have. If you are ready to take the next step in lasting health and fitness, contact us for details on our personal training for Farmingdale and Long Island residents.
Great points Billy. Too many people by nature look for other reasons or people to blame for the consequences that their poor actions have resulted in. That might seem harsh or insensitive to someone who is struggling to lose weight, and I am by no means insensitive. I totally understand how difficult it is to lose weight. People need to be educated and encouraged. Just as a few bad decisions can have lasting negative effects on a person, a few GOOD decisions can have POSITIVE effects on a person- just like your neighbor. Props to all you TBBC’ers making GREAT decisions for your life!!