"Obesity is a disease..."

I just read a quote on the NIH website that really spoke to me. "Obesity is a disease, not a character flaw." Wow, have I got that one all confused. Maybe that's a little bit why it's so embarrassing to have this problem of obesity. Are people with cardiac, kidney or thyroid disease embarrased to have their health problems? I don't thinks so. I think I am embarrassed because I should have better control over myself (character flaw). Diets don't work because I am so undisciplined (character flaw)? Perhaps a few years down the road we will have a much better understanding of obesity, and I won't have to feel defective because I have it.

Sad, isn't it? Obesity is a disease, yet it is still one of the most acceptable forms of discrimination in our society. Yes, very sad. Kristi

Yes, obesity is a disease. And, WLS does not cure compulsive eating. These are not mutually exclusive statements. You can have successful WLS and still have a problem with compulsive eating (especially between meals). The WLS will help with initial rapid weight loss and you can learn how to eat properly at meals. But WLS will not remove the desire to eat between meals. Many people who have WLS don't have that problem. I think that most of them who don't have the problem never had the problem. It's possible to become obese from overeating at meals and having crappy desserts without being a compulsive eater. SO, if you do have WLS, and find that you are still eating snacks compulsively, take a look at the Forums on Addictions or Failed WLS and seek help outside the OH community. I suggest OA even though I don't particularly believe in 12 step progams. The only requirement for joining OA is a desire to stop eating compulsively. There are many people these days who are both having WLS and going to OA. That way, you may be treating 2 separate yet similar diseases.

I dont take Obesity as a Disease. If somebody is obese, he/she donot need to be embarrase. You just need to do you work, do exercise daily, always eat healthy food which isgood for your health and maintain your body tio. The main advantage to eat healthy food is, it protects you from many diseases.