¶ … disease or something genetic? What will one discover through this process? Are there different perspectives in this matter? One will discuss both sides of the issues, and draw conclusions from the data. Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) or percentage body fat in excess of some cut-off value, though clearly a threat to health and longevity, lacks a universal concomitant group of symptoms or signs and the impairment of function which characterize disease according to traditional definitions. While it might nevertheless be possible to achieve a social consensus that it is a disease despite its failure to fit traditional models of disease, the merits of such a goal are questionable. Labeling obesity a disease may be expedient but it is not a necessary step in a campaign to combat obesity and it may be interpreted as self-serving advocacy without a sound scientific basis.

(Heshka & Allison, 2001).

One needs to discuss the cons associated with obesity. These are as follows in accordance with ProCon (2011). Many of the individuals who have obesity issues are not always physically impaired, but are able to live a normal life. This is because a person who has this problem will not have a lack of ability to do thing he or she could not do if other diseases were present. When it comes to other illnesses, a person is likely to have their life shortened; however, a person who is overweight can manage to live for a long time with the condition; despite the fact that, diabetes goes with it (ProCon, 2011).

A person learns to take responsibility, especially if one has decided to make poor choices with his or her diet and lack of exercise. A lot of what one experiences is because of how he or she chooses their lifestyle; this has nothing to do with an illness. For example, people sit behind the television and exercise less. However, an individual experiences issues with fat, and not symptoms that pertain to other sicknesses. A person can prevent obesity; whereas, with other illnesses, these are not always avoidable, such as having lung cancer (ProCon, 2011).

Here are some more reasons to note that obesity is not a disease. Some of the opponents beelieve that high cholesterol as well as smoking are risk factors, which end up predisposing someone to obesity (Ball, 2011). One can note that it demonstrates poor health, but this is not the direct cause. Much research has not shown that obesity as a factor that can cause negative outcomes (Ball, 2011). When a person is low activity, he or she is more likely to have an increased chance of getting cardiovascular disease or a stroke. However, those individuals who are overweight and active are at a lower risk of getting some terrible disease in the process (Ball, 2011).

Now one needs to discuss that obesity is a disease. When a person labels obesity as a disease, this could cause resources to get diverted that are not medically necessary (Medical News Today, 2003). Additionally, obesity is can impair social functioning of one's body. A person who is obese is likely to have an increase in fat tissue that can hinder one from becoming active. He or she is not expected to live long having this condition. For those who are obese as adults, one could face losing three years of their life (ProCon, 2011, p.2). Studies have demonstrated that heredity has a part in the obesity epedemic. Many government entities have confirmed that that obesity is considered a disease in accordance to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), NIH (National Institutes of Health) and IRS Internal Revenue Service. Obesity does have the characteristics of the signs through fat and an increased BMI. The risk factors that do occur include that of hypertension as well as other diseases. Doctors from the 17th century believed obesity as a disease (ProCon, 2011).

Proponents argue that new scientific understanding has clearly established that obesity is a discrete medical condition that independently affects health. Officially classifying obesity as a disease would have a profound impact by helping to destigmatize the condition, much as the classification of alcoholism as a disease made it easier for many alcoholics to get treatment, experts say (Ball, 2011, p.3).

When an individual declares obesity a disease, many weight loss strategies can occur because of it. These include that of liposuction and so forth. Physicians can justify these treatments...

Pharmaceutical companies are able to provide a quick fix by providing pills to individuals (Medical News Today, 2003, para 5). All of these are considered temporary, and would not solve the problem for the person who is labeled with this condition. This is because diet and exercise are not stressed to make a positive change in one's life (Medical News Today, 2003).
By having it as obesity, the nation will continue to remain preoccupied with weight loss. Because of this, people are focused on everything but living healthy because of all the medications and other therapies that are present for a person to take part in instead. Through this, costs are driven up because of the unhealthy emphasis on calling it a disease (Medical News Today, 2003). "We must focus not on the product (weight) but on the process (healthy behaviors)" (Medical News Today, 2003, p.2).

One cannot question that Americans are becoming fatter. This is because 1/3 is making the effort to lose weight during a given year (Ball, 2011). At least 30 billion dollars are spent annually for obesity issues at a rate that should not occur at all (Ball, 2011). Furthermore, statistics do demonstrate that people are considered overweight and at least 33% are obese in the United States. Not only that, but also in the last 20 years, this has doubled. Because of this, much war has occurred on this debate. President Clintion, at that time, did declare obesity as a disease (Ball, 2011).

The agencies that are federal that oversee Medicaid as well as Medicare conduct reviews in order to determine if obesity is a disease or not (Ball, 2011). One has to concur that obesity is not an illness, despite all the evidence presented. This allows individuals to take part in the necessary therapy to get their weight issues under control. Through this opportunity, people are diagnosed with diabetes; consequently, others would follow that are private insurers, despite the fact that individuals will want to resist (Ball, 2011).

People have to make a choice to change their lifestyle in order to get their obesity under control. However, when this is labeled as a disease, people are likely to become lazy, and choose the easy way out by means of relying on medication and liposuction in hopes that these methods will work. Regardless, people will have elevated blood pressure, along with the possibility of diabetes. This does not make him or her a disease walking around trying to get their life in order; instead, these are individuals striving to live a long joyful life (Ball, 2011).

What makes this an issue is that people are not taking responsibility for their actions. They talk as if they are willing to lose weight, but are not able to put it into action without accountability. What could put an end to this entire ordeal is to make sure that individuals have family and friends who are willing to do the same program with them in order to eat and exercise healthier. When a person actually sees the results, the individual will quickly learn that it is imperative to stick with it. Eventually, one will continue to remain committed to this goal, and will know that it is possible to make this happen in his or her life (ProCon, 2011).

As one can tell, this starts with the person, so that the necessary changes do take place. The medical field can become a resource; however, liposuction and medication is not going to cure it permantly. A person can make sure that it is done effectively by working out at the gym 3-5 times a week, and focusing on cardiovascular exercise. However, one has to make sure that there is a balance between cardio and weights in order for weight loss to occur, especially with eating healthy. This becomes a success when much consistency is present along with much intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. These are ways to improve oneself through the entire process (Medical News Today, 2003).

All of what one wants to do will take weeks a months to attain. The individual will need much patience in the days following. With the medical field, they can only do so much, but it all starts with the male or female wanting to make their life better. Regardless, a person has to decide whether or not to follow through or risk becoming more obese by remaining a statistic. For a person to get to this point, he or she has to make the right choice by having a means in which to make things better…