Designation of Obesity as a Disease: Lessons Learned From Alcohol and Tobacco

Abstract

Obesity is a leading cause of preventable death in the USA. The American Medical Association recently recognized obesity as meeting the definition of a chronic disease. This declaration had the intention of improving screening and long-term treatment and is historically similar to the designation of tobacco and alcohol dependence as a chronic disease. Nevertheless, it has ignited a nationwide debate in both academia and public opinion. The current article reviews the implications of treating obesity as a chronic disease, comparing the similarities in pathophysiology of obesity and other addictions, and discusses the pros and cons of this designation as it pertains to health care workers and patients.

Pediatric Obesity: Influence on Drug Dosing and Therapeutics

“…It is now described as a complex disorder of energy balance that involves adipocytes, the gastrointestinal tract, and the brain, through its operational control of food intake and energy expenditure. With ample evidence that the disorder has many features of a chronic systemic disease, there is much ongoing research into the gut–brain axis, neurobiology determinants of body fat mass, and the interplay of genetics, epigenetics, developmental influences, and the environment. There rarely is a single genetic cause of an underlying hormonal abnormality that leads to early weight gain in infants.…”

“…Pediatric obesity with its metabolic complications is a public health problem recognized as a major contributor to health burden on a global scale. Clinical data support the American Medical Association's decision in 2013 to designate obesity as a disease . The obesity epidemic has led to the emergence among adolescents of what have previously been predominantly adult‐onset diseases: type 2 diabetes, hypertension, nonalcoholic liver disease, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea .…”

A Mixed-Methods Examination among Young Adult Racially/Ethnically Diverse Bariatric Surgery Patients

“…Lastly, in 2013 the American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease (Hurt et al, 2014). While this remains somewhat controversial, this classification will potentially allow for insurance reimbursement for counseling in the treatment of obesity (Hofmann, 2015;Hurt et al, 2014).…”

“…While this remains somewhat controversial, this classification will potentially allow for insurance reimbursement for counseling in the treatment of obesity (Hofmann, 2015;Hurt et al, 2014). Thus, hopefully this will also ensure that individual counseling sessions for WLS patients are eligible for insurance reimbursement.…”

“…While some experts believe that this classification will help alleviate the discrimination and stigma associated with obesity as well as promote varying treatments for obesity (i.e. counseling) (Hurt et al, 2014), the official designation of obesity as a disease remains controversial (Hofmann, 2015;Hurt et al, 2014).…”