14 DAY TRIAL // Scientists from the University of Richmond and the University of Minnesota argue that reclassifying obesity as a disease, rather than a condition, may have counterproductive results. The change was made by the American Medical Association (AMA) last year, in the hopes of promoting a greater acceptance of various body types.
AMA experts argued at the time that the measure would contribute to reducing the stigma associated with being overweight, fat or morbidly-obese, but the new study shows that this may not be the case. In fact, the work suggests, the new classification reduces motivation to lose weight in affected population.
People become more likely to say “this is a disease and I cannot fight it” and simply refuse to take the necessary steps to bring their weight down to normal. The AMA measure was supposed to promote health-focused dieting and fewer weight-related concerns, but the results may be the exact opposite.
“Considering that obesity is a crucial public-health issue, a more nuanced understanding of the impact of an ‘obesity is a disease’ message has significant implications for patient-level and policy-level outcomes,” explains psychologist Dr. Crystal Hoyt, quoted by PsychCentral.