Medicalization of Obesity
(ML)
Medicalization describes a process by which human problems come to be defined and treated as medical problems. Obesity is a chronic disease that is often progressive. Obesity is characterized by excess body fat that can threaten or effect your health in a variety of ways such as: heart conditions, raised blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus and several other serious health risks. In recent years obesity has come to be known as a medical condition.
The Medicalization of Obesity has become a trend worldwide in which medical professionals recognize obesity as an inherent disease and medical problem. The American Medical Association officially declared obesity as a disease in May of 2013 and is considered by several medical professionals to be the most profound act of medicalization in American medicine. Obesity was medicalized for several reasons, with the hopes of reducing the stigma of being "fat", recognition of it being more serious than just will power, and to recognize its severity. The medicalization of obesity makes it a physicians professional obligation to treat and diagnose obesity.
Growth of Obesity
This declaration follows a significant rise in obesity since the beginning of the 20th century. By the year 1980 obesity had more than doubled around the world and is currently the 5th leading cause of death worldwide. in 2013 when the AMA made the decision to medicalize obesity 1 in 3 americans were suffering with obesity. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese. These statistics demonstrate the obesity epidemic that our world is facing, and suggests reasoning for the medicalization of obesity.
Treatments
Medication
Since the medicalization of obesity several different treatments have emerged to treat the disease. A variety of over the counter medications are available to treat obesity. Medications can be used to suppress appetites and increase metabolism. Although these forms of medication have proven to show results after the patient stops using it they usually experience weight gain.
Surgery
Many people who suffer from severe obesity and are unable to treat their weight through other weight loss methods will receive surgery. Most commonly received by Obesity patients is bariatric surgery which seals off the stomach to reduce the quantity of food consumed. Bariatric Surgery also known as weight loss surgery is regarded as superior to pharmaceutical or behavioural interventions in achieving sustained weight loss for the morbidly obese. Although this weight loss method has been around since the 1950s demand has grown exponentially in recent years due to the medicalization and increased rates of obesity. According to current estimates, over 5 million Americans meet eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery, and it continues to become a more popular and glorified method of weight loss. The growing popularity can be associated with Western Culture's media obsession with weight loss.
Dietary and Behaviour Modification
Dietary and behaviour modification also known as a diet is a psychological method of dealing with weight gain and loss. These methods often involve changing your eating and exercise patterns, as well as your day to day routine. These methods are seen as an early step to dealing with obesity as a disease. In addition to lifestyle changes behaviour modification can also involve setting up a mental support centre in order to deal with the mental effects of obesity.
Exercise
Is a key component in any weight loss program. Increasing daily exercise can create long term effects of weight loss.
Western Culture
Western Culture's face the highest rates of obesity worldwide. Globally there are more people overweight than underweight, excluding regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. However, obesity has been dominantly a western problem. ( insert fact about the USA having highest rate of obesity in the world.)
Media plays a large role in western culture and has contributed to the medicalization of obesity. Companies have began to increasingly advertise weight loss campaigns and for surgeries. Celebrity and media attention, as well as online advertising has all been used since the medicalization of obesity.
Monetization of Weight Loss
The medicalization of obesity in Western Culture has lead to several forms in which the economy has used this disease as a method for profit. This can be seen in TV and film production. Shows such as TLC's show My 600-lb Life, The Biggest Loser, and Extreme Weight Loss have all monetized off of the idea of obesity as a medical problem. These episodes promote the idea that obesity is a serious disease and explore the lives of those experiencing it. Several companies have used obesity as a disease as a platform to promote their product. For example companies such as Weight Watchers and a variety of other calorie counting apps have been created and play off the idea as obesity as a disease.
Many theories exist that suggest the medicalization of obesity was a ploy by the pharmaceutical industry to profit of of the diagnosis of obesity.These theories point out that the obesity epidemic is less of a medical advancement, but a political and financial tool for companies and governments.
References:
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