Is obesity a disability?

[bellybuttonlint]

I personally don't agree. Unless obesity was caused by illness I just do not agree with it. I've seen elderly people on canes ask for less help than people with obesity.

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Unless someone can justifiably state why it is, it is laughable to promote laziness. Anyone with a physical disability can claim welfare...which hurts us taxpayers.

Yes

No

Depends

I'll remain neutral

[Belgie]

There was a good study done recently to show how obesity is a disease, in the sense that a persons appetite and ability to eat, is governed by two specific hormones, which were only recently discovered. PYY, and Ghrelin.

In normal healthy people, these peak and fall. You feel hungry, you eat, you feel satiated and stop eating.

In people with a propensity for being obese, those hormones do not work correctly. They don't peak into hunger and they don't ever really feel satiated.

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Then there was a recent ground breaking study which showed that epigenetic changes in the womb can affect a persons predisposition to obesity, leading us to the conclusion that it is a disease.

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The documentary aired as part of the BBC's "Horizon" series, which often rebroadcast in America as Nova. I'd suggest you look it up. The host of that particular show was a thin woman who thought fat people just needed more will power. She changed her tune though.

[sketchy]

Yes, it's certainly a disability - but it's a self-inflicted and treatable one.

Realistically, an extremely overweight person is not going to be able to work (for various medical reasons - eg. they can't stand, but they also can't sit in one position for extended periods, etc) so they simply wouldn't be able to survive without welfare. However, you might argue that receipt of welfare payments should be conditional on their seeking treatment for their condition.

To be honest, with the economy the way it is, there aren't even enough jobs for all those who are fit & healthy and desperately seeking employment, so I can't see how trying to force these other people off welfare is going to achieve anything.

[Anonymous]

it's not. People should stop being so politically correct about obesity, and making all these allowances for fat people. Make their lives HARD. Up their insurance premiums (some companies are doing this already), Have designated "fat" seats on planes and in theatres(because no one wants to get swallowed by the person next to them), and take the terms curvy, thick, bbw out of our vocabularies because they are over used by fat women looking to feel good about themselves.

They'd feel a hell of a lot better if they got off their ass and went for a walk.

[LizTheWeirdKid]

obesity is not a disability for the majority of obese people who can still walk and exercise. they can change their eating habits and start exercising alittle more.

but I think there's a few people who are too fat to be able to move around on a daily basis and it would be dangerous for them to go on a diet and exercise. I think they have to get that lap band done or something before they change their eating habits and exercise routine.

but for the most part, no, obesity is not a disability.

[ben890]

First of all, no, it's not a f***ing disability unless you're 500 pounds and can't move (a very small portion of the "obese" population). I know plenty of people who are classified as "obese" and it doesn't affect their lives at all, besides having to deal with other people's judgements about it.

Second of all, I find it interesting that people's first reaction to this is that it would "promote laziness." Unless you are an extremely irrational person who likes being looked down upon, if you're obese and you read that people are now going to consider you "disabled," that's going to piss you off and make you feel LESS accepted, not more.

[peace-love-couture]

Yes, obviously it is.

Being skinny, bulimic or anorexic is an unhealthy choice people make though. It's unfortunate and sad that some people choose to be unhealthy and skinny but being overweight is something people can't control.

Most overweight people eat healthy, exercise, can run 5K's etc.

This is all according to the internet lmao

[bellybuttonlint]

I've seen some co-workers lose 5 lbs. in 2 weeks just by walking around the building more instead of just shooting an email.

There is just no medical reason to be obese other than illness. I've never seen a homeless obese individual or a poor kid in India who is obese running the streets.

[rachiee]

No its definitely not. You can lose weight if you wanted to and tried. Most obese people can lose weight quickly by just simply changing their eat habits.

[DestineePanic]

I honestly do not believe it is a disability. But they act like it is. My obese friend will not ride a bike because she says she'll look weird on it... Wtf? It's her choice to be disabled.

[TheGodEmperorLeto]

considering there are those that are genetically obese or whatnot, then ya, but in general? Nope. So depends.

[WoIIie]

A disability? No. Your metabolism and build might not be the greatest but hard work can overcome it.

[Anonymous]

If it's caused by nothing but their choice of lifestyle then they have only themselves to blame. No to disability!