Is Obesity In Adults An Illness?

[Lizruns]

I would like to hear opinions on whether obesity in Adults is an illness like an alcoholic or drug addiction?

[Deskdiary]

No.

Some people have an underlying illness which causes them to be fat, but the vast majority do not.

Those in the vast majority are taking in more calories than they're using.

[Old_Geezer]

Not in itself, no. But the cause of someone being so might be.

[naomi24]

I think over-eating is a state of mind and can become an addiction. Some people have a kind of love affair with food.

[Sqad]

Yes.....probably, although there are many causes of obesity, psychological and physical (diseases), although the most commonest cause of obesity is eating too much, for various mental or psychological reasons.
Is it an addiction?......yes, on balance i think it probably is.

[rockyracoon]

Well, I suppose, if you drink to excess you can become an alcoholic, so if you eat to excess you may become obese. So yes, I think it is a disease.

[joko]

in itself its not, but there are illnesses that cause it and illnesses caused by it

[douglas9401]

It's a supply issue. Loads available, loads eaten.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Sqad's being untypically evasive.

If you're massively over weight it's because your binge eating.

PS: in a very few cases there may hormonal, or blah blah, blah other reasons/excuses.

[spathiphyllum]

obesity is a disease

[vetuste_ennemi]

Is that why you can't get out of bed and go to work, Spath?

[spathiphyllum]

LOL, no ;)

However... I find it so hard to lose weight, If i was obese, i would need medical help.

My BMO is dandy

[spathiphyllum]

oops, BMI! I and O are close on the keyboard i beg for the forgiveness of abers

[douglas9401]

Fat fingers?

[spathiphyllum]

sosig fingers

[Prudie]

I don't agree sqad is being evasive and considering the huge sensitivity required when discussing this subject on here I think he was markedly fair for him. Obviously the physical cause is eating too much but the desire to do that must be due to a psychological imbalance. Real obesity I expect is a mental illness if that's how you describe an addiction (excluding the glandular bit). Have you watched those on my 600lb life? None of them are just plain greedy.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//My BMO is dandy ops, BMI! I and O are close on the keyboard i beg for the forgiveness of abers//

Have you ever considered a career in journalism, Spath?

[Calicogirl]

Yes in so much as the cause of overeating is psychological and complex, obesity itself is a symptom of the overeating. It's certainly a much of an illness as anything alcohol caused or drug caused, any addiction is an illness. x

[Buenchico]

As I see it . . .

Obesity, per se, isn't an illness. It's simply a 'condition'. However that condition may itself be a symptom of illness.

As an analogy, being seriously underweight isn't an illness in itself but it could well be a symptom of a physical illness (e.g. cancer) or of a mental one (e.g. anorexia).

Similarly, being seriously overweight (i.e. obese) isn't an illness in itself but it could well be a symptom of a physical illness (e.g. a thyroid problem) or indicative of a mental health issue.

[Hopkirk]

Look at pictures from World War 2. Do you see any obese people?

[retrocop]

I suppose there are those who are/were morbidly obese will plead a mental illness and those who will admit they are just weak willed and lack will power and commitment. I don't know. Not been down that road but I guess some don't know when to stop.