Well, every second adult in Germany is overweight. And almost one in every six is obese, with a Body Mass Index over 30. All of these people are sick?
On this Definition, experts will discuss in the British medical journal “The BMJ”. Currently in the UK, as well as in Germany, Obesity is not regarded as a disease – however, the theme is not in this country in the public debate.
In Portugal, Obesity has been for 15 years, as a chronic disease. The American doctors organization AMA classifies this since the year 2013.
In the current issue of “BMJ” argues John Wilding from the University of Liverpool, together with the President of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, Vicki Mooney, for the British Obesity in the future officially as a disease see.
“It is not the fault of the Individual”
Your arguments: heredity and environment play a crucial role in whether someone develops Obesity, such as fat pads spread on the body and how big is the risk for subsequent diseases. More than 200 gene variants are already known, the influence of the weight. Many of these genes are involved in the regulation of Hunger and satiety. “It is not the fault of the Individual, if he is overweight,” conclude the two.
You think it is a fundamentally wrong approach, and that Overweight people should be responsible to remove. “If we are Overweight as a chronic disease to acknowledge, should the help that obese people are less stigmatized and discriminated against,” they write. The two assume that more people would engage in a treatment, if excess weight would be defined as a disease.
You the General medical doctor Richard Pile is contrary to the “BMJ”. He can’t imagine that the new Definition would have positive effects. Neither fat people would, as soon as you hear the message to leave, suddenly excited a brisk walk. Even health experts would believe in a Moment of realization at the end, and ‘This changes everything!'” call, he writes.
“Benefit pharmaceutical companies”
The Pile is afraid of instead of the possible negative consequences. You would see Obesity as a disease, as from the genetics set, this could take Affected the Motivation to tackle. He warns that the only beneficiaries of this Change would be the pharmaceutical companies and Doctors who sell drugs or perform surgery. So far, however, there are hardly any drugs that help Obese may lose weight.
Wilding, pleading for recognition as a disease, is in the “BMJ” usual disclosures of potential conflicts of interest, more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies, of which he has received, among other things, lecture fees. The Pile is engaged, however, in a company that wants to help people through Coaching. Due to this conflict of interest you should not push the arguments on the Pro side, however, set aside.
Excess weight to fight, how to fight infections
Actually, the discussion about whether Obesity should be considered as a disease, older. 2017, for example, published in the journal “The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology” an Editorial with the claim of Obesity as a disease to recognize. The Text was based on a position paper of the World Obesity Federation.
Infectious diseases, it is said, have been successfully pushed by social measures, we have improved example, through sanitation Hygiene. Similarly, we must tackle the obesity epidemic with measures of their “pathogens” fight: food with high energy density and lack of exercise. But this can not the Individual to solve, instead, governments, health services, food manufacturers and others must work together.
In the end, the solution probably lies between the two positions and whether Overweight is defined as a disease or not, is not the main point. Because if it is intended to create more people, not overweight or lose weight, it needs Both social changes as well as personal Motivation.