Is Obesity a disability?

shrubnose said:

Put 30 pounds of whatever in a backpack and carry that around with you everywhere you go for a year. Seriously, try it. then tell us what you think.

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If I did that I'd be 60 lbs overweight.

Obesity in and of itself isn't a disability, but sometimes people are obese due to other legitimate medical issues, and at those time it can be.

radcen said:

Obesity in and of itself isn't a disability, but sometimes people are obese due to other legitimate medical issues, and at those time it can be.

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Right. That's my problem with the whole situation. In of itself it isn't a disability, but those who are medically obese will be wrapped up with those who ate themselves into obesity. I'm wondering if there is some way to draw a line. It doesn't make sense that someone who couldn't "drop a fork" receive the same benefits as someone who can't help it and was born that way.

Hijinx said:

As the topic states: Do you think that obesity counts as a legitimate disability?

...But I just can't help but disagree with the notion. Especially considering how I know many people and I'm sure many of you might as well, who eat themselves into that situation. They're literally eating and drinking themselves into being disabled, and they get counted among those who are actually medically obese. That's just wrong to me.

Here is a humorous article about the subject: Obesity: A Disability or a Lack of Responsibility? | We Are People 2

Thoughts?

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You've answered your own question as far as I am concerned. They ate their way into it, they can eat (properly) their way OUT of it.

Pisses me off when I hear doctor's are trying to get this classified as a "disease." That's just to get access to more medicare and medicaid funds. Cancer is a disease, common obesity is usually a weakness of the will. There are clear medical exceptions which do exist though.

radcen said:

Obesity in and of itself isn't a disability, but sometimes people are obese due to other legitimate medical issues, and at those time it can be.

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Other times the obesity causes other legitimate medical issues. Still other times, they all compound each other. And in many cases, simply doing what needs to be done to get thin again nearly resolves all of the above.

In my opinion, obesity is a symptom of a disorder. It is not a disease nor a disability. There is a difference.

TheGirlNextDoor said:

My 17 year old son is very thin. He's always been "underweight". He is all muscle though. Just recently after a bone density scan, they believe he has hyper-thyroidism which once of the symptoms is inability to gain weight. He's tried protein shakes, high Carb meals...nothing. He's physically active but while he grows taller, he's very thin. One of the doc's said his metabolism is extremely high. I'm not so lucky...lol.

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You know, I think doctors throw that label on any kid who isn't pudgy these days. Especially boys.

That sounds like plenty of teenage boys I knew, to me. They shoot up fast -- before their bodies have had a chance to even lengthen their nerve endings, let alone pack on some more weight (ever wonder why they're so clumsy? :lol: ).

But these days, not only do we have bad diets and sedentary lifestyles, but most boys are exposed to a huge amount of estrogen, or chemicals that act like estrogen, through stuff that they eat and eat out of, which often makes them pack on the pounds.

When I was a teen, I got told the same thing, even though I was still within the normal weight range, albeit on the low side. My doctor tested me for EVERYTHING. Even Hepatitis C. Apparently it was just beyond her imagination that an American teen could be a bit on the thin side unless something was wrong.

And ya know, I can't really blame her.

Hijinx said:

As the topic states: Do you think that obesity counts as a legitimate disability?

It's a pretty big deal in employment law according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and they count it as such under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. For all intents and purposes it would make sense that it does count as a disability, as they are technically disabled by definition (physical impairment or lack of physical functioning). But I just can't help but disagree with the notion. Especially considering how I know many people and I'm sure many of you might as well, who eat themselves into that situation. They're literally eating and drinking themselves into being disabled, and they get counted among those who are actually medically obese. That's just wrong to me.

Here is a humorous article about the subject: Obesity: A Disability or a Lack of Responsibility? | We Are People 2

Thoughts?

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It depends, if the obesity has caused damage to his back or damage to his spine/joints than maybe. I am obese, have a very bad back and hip problems that make walking very painful. But people who are obese can have other problems that may not be the result of their obesity but that make their illness much harder.

Hijinx said:

Right. That's my problem with the whole situation. In of itself it isn't a disability, but those who are medically obese will be wrapped up with those who ate themselves into obesity. I'm wondering if there is some way to draw a line. It doesn't make sense that someone who couldn't "drop a fork" receive the same benefits as someone who can't help it and was born that way.

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What is 'medical obesity'? Obesity results from consuming more calories than your body uses. Everybody who is obese ate themselves that way. If you don't eat the calories, you will not get fat. Of course everyone's body consumes energy at different rates and stores fat in different amounts in different parts of the body. There may of course be medical reasons why certain individuals require very different quantities of calories than others and metabolic activity also varies from person to person, but if the calories do not go in, the person does not get fat.

Hijinx said:

As the topic states: Do you think that obesity counts as a legitimate disability?

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Honestly... :roll:

Captain Adverse said:

You've answered your own question as far as I am concerned. They ate their way into it, they can eat (properly) their way OUT of it.

Pisses me off when I hear doctor's are trying to get this classified as a "disease." That's just to get access to more medicare and medicaid funds. Cancer is a disease, common obesity is usually a weakness of the will. There are clear medical exceptions which do exist though.

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Your last sentence comes off solely as a weak disclaimer intended to keep people off your back. After the very strong stand you took regarding just getting more funds and weakness of the will and how they "ate their way into it", it is unconvincing that you actually believe it.

No, it isn't a disability, as it can be avoided and controlled by the person who is obese.

radcen said:

Your last sentence comes off solely as a weak disclaimer intended to keep people off your back. After the very strong stand you took regarding just getting more funds and weakness of the will and how they "ate their way into it", it is unconvincing that you actually believe it.

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Keep people off my back? Hardly. I just recalled that when I was a youth people mentioned that a glandular problem could cause involuntary rapid weight gain. Upon research I found the term: Hypothyroidism. In that rare case ONLY would I accept a medical diagnosis of a condition not the fault of an "over-eater."

So, despite your disbelief in my sincerity (which you can shove up your "expletive deleted") I meant every word I said.

Captain Adverse said:

Keep people off my back? Hardly. I just recalled that when I was a youth people mentioned that a glandular problem could cause involuntary rapid weight gain. Upon research I found the term: Hypothyroidism. In that rare case ONLY would I accept a medical diagnosis of a condition not the fault of an "over-eater."

So, despite your disbelief in my sincerity (which you can shove up your "expletive deleted") I meant every word I said.

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I stand confirmed. Thank you.

radcen said:

I stand confirmed. Thank you.

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(YAWN) Oh what? Another declaration of victory from a retreating army? :screwy W/E :2rofll:

Grand Mal said:

I think I've noticed that overweight-obesity is more common in low-income groups. I'm guessing that sometimes it's caused by people not being able to afford to eat well or not knowing about good nutrition. A cart full of fatty, processed foods is cheaper and easier than one full of fresh, healthy groceries. A bucket of KFC with a box of fries is good value, volume-per-dollar-wise. In the city, where most people live (I think) it can be expensive to eat a healthy diet. If you know how to cook, can afford good food and make it a priority you probably won't have a problem but increasing numbers of people don't.
It's not just gluttony, thats my take.

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There is nothing intrinsically unhealthy about processed foods but fresh groceries are not more expensive than junk food.

That's besides the point though. No one becomes obese because they're eating the "wrong" food, whatever that is. You become obese because you eat way too much.

Dapper Andy said:

There is nothing intrinsically unhealthy about processed foods but fresh groceries are not more expensive than junk food.

That's besides the point though. No one becomes obese because they're eating the "wrong" food, whatever that is. You become obese because you eat way too much.

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Damn. How can you have lived long enough to know how to use a computer and not have learned that everything you said in that post is bull****?

Hijinx said:

As the topic states: Do you think that obesity counts as a legitimate disability?

It's a pretty big deal in employment law according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and they count it as such under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. For all intents and purposes it would make sense that it does count as a disability, as they are technically disabled by definition (physical impairment or lack of physical functioning). But I just can't help but disagree with the notion. Especially considering how I know many people and I'm sure many of you might as well, who eat themselves into that situation. They're literally eating and drinking themselves into being disabled, and they get counted among those who are actually medically obese. That's just wrong to me.

Here is a humorous article about the subject: http://wearepeople2.com/obesity-a-disability-or-a-lack-of-responsibility/

Thoughts?

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It is a real big deal as obesity and other lifestyle choices are a major cause of disability. Econically with advances in healthcare and our ineffectual payor system and everyone trying to live as long as they can at any expense to others will put us on a downward spiral economically regardless of who is our POTUS.

Grand Mal said:

Damn. How can you have lived long enough to know how to use a computer and not have learned that everything you said in that post is bull****?

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Unlike you, I'm actually old enough to have bought groceries for a family for decades.

I know how much things cost.

Cooking a family dinner is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper per person than running to KFC or McDonald's.

Dapper Andy said:

There is nothing intrinsically unhealthy about processed foods

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That depends on which processed food. Hydrogenating, loading them up with HFCS, and loading them with additives for shelf life are unhealthy.

but fresh groceries are not more expensive than junk food.

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This depends on how many people you are feeding and if you have freezer space for leftovers.

Calorie for calorie though, junk food is cheaper, but that's largely due to subsidies on corn and meat reducing the costs to consumers. If we take away subsidies, junk food gets much more expensive. You can get a lot more calories out of a bag of cheap cheetos then you can out of a turkey dinner for the same price. It's partially why really poor people are really fat.

No one becomes obese because they're eating the "wrong" food, whatever that is.

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Surprisingly yes. I'm still waiting on why the Junk Food Diet that college health professor reduced his LDL. That makes no sense.

Obesity is NOT a disability... it is almost universally fat people being really ****ing lazy.

Obesity is no more of a "disability" than emphysema is for a lifelong 2 pack a day smoker. I mean, sure, it can disable you to be morbidly obese, but just like with a lifelong smoker, it is entirely your own doing, 100% your fault (and your parents if they allowed you to be obese as a child). Everyone that is not obese sees the same ads for foods, drives past the same fast food joints, and sees the same crap in the store when they shop for groceries, yet they make better health choices.

<-------- See that picture, that is me coming in from a 9 mile run in -3 degree weather with a -30 to -40 windchill. I have been an avid runner for over 10 years now and an avid cyclist for 5 years now. I am 38 years old. Prior to becoming a runner I was some 40 pounds heavier than I am now. My body fat percentage runs 5 to 7% depending on what I am training for. My HDL averages over 70. My blood sugar is never high, my Blood Pressure is always normal. My resting heart rate is very low, and every time I get a physical I am told that my numbers are phenomenal across the board. This is all due to my being active and eating a healthy whole foods diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, cold water fishes and so on. I never eat fast food. I manage to do all this despite the fact we have 3 kids and I work a lot of hours. I also pack my lunch for work religiously.

The fact is, society did not make you fat or unhealthy and it will not make you lean and healthy, it is all choices that you must make yourself.

Fisher said:

If you mean is someone packing an extra 20-30 pounds disabled than no, but people who are morbidly obese can become disabled because of it so I say yes. It involves a combination of factors, but morbid obesity can be a driver of combinations of things that make people unable to work, especially problems with their knees, ankles, and backs as well as breathing, level of exertion, blood pressure, and diabetes.

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They only get obese enough to be disabled because the only exercise they get is moving a fork to their mouth.

Even someone with thyroid or other metabolic problems wouldn't be near the size of the herd we see. In order to put on that much weight, they still have to take in the amount of calories/carbohydrates necessary to build that much fat. With decent diet and reasonable exercise they shouldn't be more than that 20-30 pounds over weight you mentioned.

Is the employment issue more about an inability to fulfill job requirements or about additional sick time losses and higher health insurance costs?

GottaGo said:

Obesity is actually a symptom of other conditions (mental and/or physical) which may be considered a disability, but in and of itself, no.

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Can you provide any sources that say the greater part of obesity in America is caused by that? It is the opposite of what I've read...which is about diet and inactivity.

TheGirlNextDoor said:

Obesity a disability?

No. Even those labeled as "morbidly obese" don't have to be what we'd consider to be huge. A person being 50# overweight is considered morbidly obese.

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And even if the morbidly obese are that way because of medical conditions, there are medical ways to reduce it now. Perhaps for not all but most. However the surgeries and other procedures are not always covered by insurance and it's $$$$$$$.