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22 / Health Issues Caused by Obesity

Make Connections:

Is Obesity a Disease?

More and more organizations are beginning to view

obesity as a disease. It is believed that the reason for

this is so people who are considered to be obese can

more easily get insurance to pay for medical coverage.

Another benefit to classifying obesity as a disease is

that it brings it even more dominantly into the public's

view: “We think that it's going to send a message not

only to the public but to the physician community that

we really need to make it a priority and put in our cross

hairs.”

The American Medical Association (AMA) is the

newest organization to classify obesity as a disease. The

other organizations that take this stance are the World

Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration (FDA), and the Internal Revenue

Service.

words. If we choose to ignore our health, it will go away. We must pay atten-

tion to our growing waistlines and act if need be. (Every height has a recom-

mended weight range for a reason!)

In addition to the obvious practical and social difficulties excess weight

can bring, it also increases one’s risk of developing serious illnesses. What are

these illnesses? Diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer are all