Reply #7: Alcoholism shouldn't be called a disease, either

[lbrtbell]

Like obesity, alcoholism doesn't happen unless you consciously decide to do something that later becomes addictive--i.e., it's an addiction, like gambling. I'm NOT saying that an addiction doesn't need treatment--of course it does!--what I mean is, the medical community does patients with actual diseases a real disservice by misusing the word "disease".

For example, things that REALLY can't be helped, like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc., are called "syndromes"--which gives everyone leeway to blame the patient for his/her problems because it's supposedly not a "disease". As a fibro sufferer myself, I can tell you that this is very much a disease that interferes with your quality of life, not just a cutesy little "syndrome". It runs in families, it's triggered by external stimuli (an accident, injury, or flu), and has every hallmark of a disease.

But there's a lot more money to be made by "treating" a "disease" like alcoholism or obesity, because more people drink and overeat.

I've had weight gain from meds I take, menopause, etc., but I've also been able to lose the weight when I do two things: Stop eating crap, and get off my duff and get moving. I'm not saying that being overweight is a moral failing, just that it's simply a condition brought on by an unhealthy lifestyle of too little physical activity and too much consumption of high-fructose corn syrup, etc. And while there are people who are overweight as the result of a real disease (thyroid problems, etc.), the vast majority of Americans are overweight because of their lifestyle.

I should know--I'm one of them. And today I'm going to take the first walk I've taken in a long time, because I need to lose weight before I make myself vulnerable to diseases like diabetes or heart disease.

Please don't think I'm looking down on people who are overweight. My concern is that using the word "disease" will only exacerbate people's already-ingrained tendency to want a magic (and non-existent) diet pill to replace good food and exercise. It's human nature to want a quick fix, but there is no quick fix for obesity or any other addiction. :(