At Sunday's debate, there appeared to be no consensus as physicians opposed to the idea argued that declaring obesity a disease would “medicalize a condition” that affects up to one-third of the nation. They added that obesity doesn't meet the definition of “disease” in that overweight individuals can still be in good general health.
Speaking against those points were delegates from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Cardiology, American College of Surgeons, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, American Urological Association, Endocrine Society, and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
Dr. Ethan Lazarus, with the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, said the report should go back to the council to be reworked because it didn't evaluate the prejudice experienced by overweight people—including bias by their physicians.
Dr. Craig Backs, an internist from Springfield, Ill., and the former present of the Illinois State Medical Society, said it was a personal issue for him.
“A year ago, I had this disease,” said Backs who told of losing 50 pounds. “This is much more complex than a lifestyle choice.”
Backs said he's inspired his patients to lose weight and that he's done so without prescribing a single drug and, in fact, he's actually been able to take several patients off the drugs they were taking because of weight-related health problems.
Others, however, argued that classifying obesity as a disease could have unintended consequences for patients' insurance coverage and employment.
Follow Andis Robeznieks on Twitter: @MHARobeznieks
