Is obesity a disease or the victims fault?
364213
It's both.  \nResearch has shown that there's a definite genetic component to being overweight and there's also a virus that contributes (I know, sounds like a joke, but it's true).\nHowever, people still eat too much and exercise too little.
991698
The balanced diet has made obesity (according to Atlantic Monthly magazine) the number 1 health problem in the world soon replacing hunger and infectious disease. So if you need to lose weight it is mostly not your fault. You are a victim of this pandemic (epidemic).\n\nThe site below teaches you a whole new way to eat. You learn about quick and slow ways to lose weight, taking off bodyfat and retained water. It tells about anti-water which explains why people tell you to drink a lot of water. Learn everything on that webpage. Do it and you can be thin. Do it not and remain part of the biggest pandemic ever. It is causing the children of Americans to have a lower lifespan than their parents for the first time in 100 years.
1058214
WE can't stop other people's compulsions. Obesity may be a global epidemic as you call it,but I think it is up to each and every individual to stay healthy and active and exercise and eat right. I see it as being a choice. These people choose not to do anything about it. That is their own fault...not mine. Many people that are obese are at higher risk of diabetes,heart disease,etc...these people don't even listen to their doctors half the time (in my opinion,of course) So,if they aren't willing to do anything about it,why should I concern myself?
1006664
Only if a medical condition is causing it.  I have heard of people wh are obese because oh something going wrong in their body.  It seems no matter what they eat or how they exercise, it don't help.  Others just eat to much fast food and snacks and are couch potatoes.  And no there is no excuse for them.
579169
"Overweight and obesity substantially raise the risk of illness from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep disturbances and problems breathing, and certain types of cancers."\nSame article:\n    *  premature death\n    * type 2 diabetes\n    * heart disease\n    * stroke\n    * hypertension\n    * gallbladder disease\n    * osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone in joints)\n    * sleep apnea\n    * asthma\n    * cancer (endometrial, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and postmenopausal breast cancer)\n    * high blood cholesterol\n    * complications of pregnancy\n    * menstrual irregularities\n    * hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair)\n    * stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic-floor muscles)\n    * increased surgical risk\n    * psychological disorders such as depression\n    * psychological difficulties due to social stigmatization
943251
Addiction IS NOT a disease.  It has only recently (20 or so years) been determined to be a disease so people don't have to take responsibility for their own actions.  Part of the PC, touchy feely world.
633428
I am not 100% sure, but I would venture a guess that obesity causes the most monetary damage to society.
610427
Type 2 Diabetes, High blood pressure, Heart disease, Sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, etc... I used to be obese myself, and it's not such an easy task to fight. The gastric bypass operation seems to be beneficial for most, however, it's still taking a life-threatening risk. Obesity can be due to genetic, environmental, or psychological issues, so it may be easier to lose weight than others. Like anorexia and bulimia, it is also considered an eating disorder in that category.
1181940
i think that if you truly HATE somebody for being fat and try to hurt them physically then perhaps it should be considered a hate crime. Hate crimes are crimes provoked from hate and nothing else whether its the hate of somebody's race, religion, or anything else. However, i don't think that somebody calling you fat should be considered a hate crime. More likely just a rude individual who should keep their opinion to themself.  Maybe you are maybe you're not..and i think everyone who answered this with something about you being fat rather than answering the question should have just kept their answers out. In society, yes it is more acceptable to be thin, but "fat" is not necessarily a bad thing. Granted those who are obese should lose weight to be healthier, but a few extra pounds is in no way a crime.
1115745
A lot of the things that cause people to be handicapped also cause them to be overweight.  If you are unable to walk, for example, as a result of heart disease, lung disease, or a spinal cord injury, it is very easy to put on the pounds.  \n\nHave a little consideration--would you willingly change places with a handicapped person just to get a better parking space? Of course not.  Neither would they.
707875
I don't believe that genetics are the cause for "most" of the obesity problem.  Here's more information.  http://www.annecollins.com/lose_weight/weight-genetics.htm\n\nAnyway, both conditions are bad for your health.  I would say that anorexia is worse.  People can recover from obesity, although very difficult.  I have never seen a person who had anorexia not look like they are still on the verge of anorexia.  Once a stick, always a stick.
983761
I don't think that is true,perhaps because of the fat?\nDepends from person to person...
568256
Excessive cholestrol leads to blockage of heart vessels leading to strokes.. In case of women, they already have osteoporosis (weakness of bones), overweight body cant be supposted by weak bones..hence leading to frequent fractures.. Over eating red meat leads to cancer, over eating Sweet food leads to diabetes.\n\nFrom a social point of view, obese people are either made fun of or are shunned .. that is until the other person knows the type of person inside all that blubber..
35052
YES.\n\nObesity is an increasing public healt h risk in America. Being overweight leads to hypertension (high blood pressure) and that increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. It also leads to diabetes which in turn can lead to many bad things.  Having a poor diet will also lead to clogged arteries.\n\nEven loosing 10% of your weight can help reduce your chances of heart disease. Eating well and staying active are the two best ways to avoid heart disease.
211082
Personally, i think if you are overweight because of eating habits or it is your own fault, you should pay more for healthcare, or if you are in a country with free healthcare, such as Canada, (Canada has free but crappy healthcare) you will need to pay more taxes, until you become thinner. Fat people are a problem, only if it their own fault. Genetic fatness shouldn't be minded. But then they also fight for "fat peoples rights" ever heard of those? All those minority groups are pissing me off. Fat people should definetely be penilized. Also, off topic, but you know who gets the best job nowadays? Technically a fat black old lesbian disabled transsexual would. They get more rights than anyone!
234983
If you have any addiction, it is your fault, and no one elses. I say this, having been fat (not like gigantic fat, but still fat), and currently loosing weight, it is not easy to loose weight, but who said life was easy, my main problem is I have a moderately slow metabolism, AND I used to eat poorly... but now I am loosing weight, feeling good, and enjoying my good health. It is harder for me to loose weight than most (but not all) because of genetics, but these natural forces can be controlled... what everone must keep in mind, is that not all fat people are lazy, or unwilling to loose weight, however, unfortunately, the majority of them are, so they make all those who try look, and feel bad... If you are fat, you have no one to blame but yourself, if you take in few enough calories, you WILL lose weight, no matter who/what you are.\n\nBy the way, here is how you seperate fat people who are trying, from those who are lazy... Those who are trying, will make a plan, try to stick to it, and on ocasion, srew up, but they will admit they screwed up, and KEEP TRYING. The lazy people (sadly the majority of the obese) will sit back and blame others, like "oh, poor me, society makes it so hard", or "I just don't have time"... ect., I'm sure with the majority of America being lazy, you've heard all the excuses!\n\nAnyway, the crack addict has no one to blame but him/herself, and the fat person has no one to blame but him/herself, quit blaming others, you lazy cowards!\n\n*************************\nI also agree with "John C", as to how fat people should be treated, treat everyone with dignity, and help them stop thier bad habit, this includes the drug addict too!\n\nBut remember, obesity is allways as simple as energy in vs. energy out, yea, you may feel hungry alot if you seriously modify your diet, yea, it's hard, and yes, exercise will probably be harder than watching a TV (not for me, it's the diet that's hard)... DEAL WITH IT! If you want to be fat, it is indeed your choice (as I feel it should be your choice to do drugs, or anything else that only affects you), but remember that, it is a choice, no one is making you be fat, just like no one makes a crack addict smoke!
951266
well let's what the dictionary says on the definition of disease:\n\na disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.\n\nwell, we have two problems here in defining obesity as a disease. One is what is the disordered or incorrectly function organ, part, structure, or system? Technically, an obese person's adipose fat tissue is functioning fine, they just have too much of it. \n\nThe second problem is defining a cause, although I see the solution here as saying it's a nutritional imbalance. But without being able to actually say what system is disordered or malfunctioning, I don't think we can really classify as a disease at this point.\n\nIf I was to try to shoehorn into the disease classification though, I would probably attack it from the hormone angle. If the hormones connected to eating aren't functioning properly to the point where your body ends up storing unhealthly levels of fats, then you could technically say that it's a person hormone system that is disordered. However, it's hard to say how many cases of obesity are really caused by a malfunctioning hormone system, either way it would only be some cases of obesity that would be considered a disease.