Comment: obesity as a disease – some implications for the World Obesity Federation's advocacy and public health activities

Lobstein, Tim; Brinsden, Hannah; Gill, Tim; Kumanyika, Shiriki; Swinburn, Boyd

doi:10.1111/obr.12554

Cited by 56 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Attitudes that held patients responsible for their condition and their lack of commitment to treatment were also a concern, insofar as stigma experienced by patients can contribute to lack of treatment. Defining obesity as a disease may help to overcome stigma and improve patient referral and treatment adherence and may also help to secure better funding streams for treatment services, and for prevention services which are a necessary adjunct to reduce the risk of weight regain after treatment . However, many countries do not yet appear ready to recognize obesity as a disease, especially in lower income countries.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Defining obesity as a disease may help to overcome stigma and improve patient referral and treatment adherence 14,15 and may also help to secure better funding streams for treatment services, and for prevention services which are a necessary adjunct to reduce the risk of weight regain after treatment. 16 However, many countries do not yet appear ready to recognize obesity as a disease, especially in lower income countries. Rapid changes will be needed in health systems worldwide in order to provide treatment for people living with obesity commensurate with the United Nations' goal of Universal Health…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Clinical care for obesity: A preliminary survey of sixty‐eight countries

et al. 2020

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Summary Obesity is a chronic relapsing condition affecting a rapidly increasing number of people worldwide. The United Nations has stated that universal health coverage is an essential element of the globally‐agreed sustainable development goals. This article provides a preliminary report of a survey of relevant health professionals and other interest groups on the readiness of health systems to provide obesity treatment services. Interviews and questionnaires were completed by 274 respondents from a total of 68 low, middle and high income countries. Respondents in the majority of countries stated that there were professional guidelines for obesity treatment, but that there was a lack of adequate services, especially in lower income countries, and in rural areas of most countries. Lack of treatment was attributed to a broad range of issues including: no clear care pathways from primary care to secondary services; absent or limited secondary services in some regions; lack of trained multi‐disciplinary support professionals; potentially high costs to patients; long waiting times for surgery; and stigma experienced by patients within the health care services. Defining obesity as a disease may help to overcome stigma and may also help to secure better funding streams for treatment services. However, the survey found that few countries were ready to accept this definition. Furthermore, until countries fully adopt and implement obesity prevention policies the need for treatment will continue to rise while the necessary conditions for treatment will remain inadequate.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical care for obesity: A preliminary survey of sixty‐eight countries

et al. 2020

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“…Obese individuals without comorbidities are still at risk for developing the disease of obesity-a condition by which obesity is accompanied by additional comorbidities such as high blood pressure, high blood glucose, or high cholesterol. Obesity by itself increases risk of mortality, and obesity disease, with obesity-related NCDs, puts an obese individual at greater risk for morbidity and mortality (Bray et al 2017;Kyle, Dhurandhar, and Allison 2016;Lobstein et al 2017). a.…”

Section: Obesity: Both a Disease And A Risk Factormentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity: Health and Economic Consequences of an Impending Global Challenge

Shekar¹,

Popkin²

2019

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This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved.

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“…Another study found a high correlation between the statements ‘(This state of being) is a disease’ and ‘(This state of being) should be treated with public tax revenue’ in both healthcare professionals and lay people . In countries where health services are funded through insurance schemes, classification of obesity as a disease may allow patients greater access to payments for treatment .…”

Section: The Constructivist Account Of Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Philosophical determinants of obesity as a disease

Kilov

2017

Obesity Reviews

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SummaryIs obesity a disease? Much ink has been spilled over this debate and for good reasons. The global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since the 1980s and is now of pandemic proportions. Whether obesity is a disease has consequences for what kind of treatments are appropriate, as well as how we ought to allocate funding and access to healthcare resources. In most cases, there is no dispute over the medical facts, yet disagreement persists. This is because whether obesity is a disease is not determined by medical facts alone; the issue is, in part, conceptual. Science relies on careful argumentation and conceptual analysis as part of its armamentarium. In this review, we will examine the two concepts of disease most often employed in the philosophy of medicine: the naturalistic and constructivist. We will argue that, whichever definition of a disease is used, obesity fits the criteria for disease definition. Those seeking to meet the challenge of managing obesity will, therefore, need to embrace chronic disease models of care suited to addressing the lifelong challenge posed by this disease and its associated complications.

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Comment: obesity as a disease – some implications for the World Obesity Federation's advocacy and public health activities

Cited by 56 publications

References 20 publications

Clinical care for obesity: A preliminary survey of sixty‐eight countries

Clinical care for obesity: A preliminary survey of sixty‐eight countries

Obesity: Health and Economic Consequences of an Impending Global Challenge

Philosophical determinants of obesity as a disease

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