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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

22 / Health Issues Caused by Obesity