3 reasons why obesity is... a disease?

I bet you didn't know this ...

Obesity...even being overfat... is a disease.

No, really.

At least that's what several social groups wish you to believe.
"Suffers Of Obesity" is just one of those groups. Their entire
stance is obesity (which, btw, can be only 30lbs or so over your
ideal bodyweight) is an actual disease.

Well, is it?

Yes... and no.

Comedian Ricky Gervais has a hilarious go at this stance... that
obesity is a disease. You sometimes have to laugh, you know? ; )

"No... it's not a disease... it's greed. You just love to eat," or so
Gervais believes.

Well, in my first newsletter for 2010, a new decade with new ideas,
I'm here to share a new idea with you:

We really need to redefine some words.

One of those words is "disease".

Case-in-point: Wikipedia.com defines disease...

"In human beings, "disease" is often used more broadly to refer to
any condition that causes pain, dysfunction, distress, social
problems, and/or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems
for those in contact with the person. In this broader sense, it
sometimes includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes,
infections, isolated symptoms, deviant behaviors, and atypical
variations of structure and function, while in other contexts and
for other purposes these may be considered distinguishable
categories."

Let's think about that.

If you bump your knee against a sharp object, is this a new disease
called "bumpuskneeitis?" Er... no. It's an accident. Sure, it may
'cause' a specific set of symptoms that could broadly (as in as
broad as the back-side of a barn) be considered a "disease",
but ... no. It's an accident with biological consequences.

Social problems? So, if I decide to read 17 books on why my
parents suck as a teenager and develop anti-social behavior,
is this a "disease"? NO! This is the angst of youth combined,
perhaps, with poor parenting! Sure, it can lead to mental issues
that could be classified as "disease", but guess what?

It's totally within your control. No one force-fed the books to the
teen. And no one is force-feeding you, or anyone you know.

That decision is yours and yours alone... and anyone, repeat
ANYONE on the face of planet earth can change their behaviors
and attitudes toward food.

Okay, some more thoughts on disease:

Let me give you a few examples of what is typically thought of
as "disease"...

--- Leprosy
--- Cancer
--- Hypothyroidism

We'll just take three... there are thousands as you know.

Now, we can all agree that these three states represent true
"disease". The first you could catch by accident; the second is a
combination of genetics, environment, and who-knows-what-else,
and the third is almost always genetic.

One, cancer, is something you 'may' be able to do something about.
For example, lung cancer. 90% of lung cancer patients contract the
disease from smoking.

Let's just cover these 90%, shall we?

And folks, I'm asking for an open mind here...

Is lung cancer, in the case of the 90%, REALLY a disease?

Or is it a biological consequence?

Sure, "cancer" is a disease. But what caused it in this case?
Something involuntary? Hardly. Something that could not
be stopped?

No way.

The 90% caused it. Period.

Welcome to the real world.

So, I propose this: We redefine "disease" as an abnormal biological
condition that we DO NOT have direct cause or effect over.

Airborne viruses: Disease. Obesity: NOT a disease.

And yes, lung cancer in chain smokers: NOT a disease; it's a
biological outcome. The end result should be treated as a disease,
of course, but come on: Where is the responsibility folks?

Life, if you want to live it fully and without fear, is ALL about
taking total responsibility. That's empowerment. Anything less
is... well, LESS.

In our example, lung cancer is no more a "disease" than, say, me
hitting myself over the head with a hammer every day and causing
brain damage is a disease.

Brain damage (not self-induced) = disease.

Brain damage caused by self-inflicted hammer-hitting = biological
consequence. In this case of sheer stupidity!

Now, one could (and many will) make the argument that I had a
"mental" disease that caused me to WANT to hit myself over the
head with a hammer... but... well...

At this point we need to redefine the word "disease" in my opinion.
Here's why:

First, if this were the case, I could say that all criminals have a
disease.

They all have a mental disease that makes them want to kill, steal...
you name it.

This may in fact BE true... we do not know... but do we hold them
NOT responsible if it is? No, we do not.

And that brings us back to obesity.

Obesity and being overfat is not a disease folks...
------ > it's a biological consequence.

And, with the exception of the extremely 'rare' cases of total
glandular dysfunction from birth, obesity... your bodyweight...
is your responsibility.

Period. End of story.

Sorry, but that's the way the ball bounces.

Am I being mean? No. I was obese. I have a right to speak my
mind about it, and trust me: My depression (a disease... sorta...
some genetic, but a lot of it was caused by eating too much sugar)
definitely aided in my obesity.

Then how come I'm not obese any more?

I found a better way to eat. I re-trained my body to crave this
style of eating (and exercise) over stuffing myself with pizza and
burgers every day.

Here's what I use:

Click.Here-----------> Every Other Day Diet

It torches bellyfat... and it reprograms the body and mind to use
food as fuel... especially if you use Jon's "7 Minute Body" workout
system (you can get it at 77% off after you pick up EODD on the
page above... ; )

So be brave. Be fearless. And be responsible.

Oh... and be sure not to catch "internetemailitis"... its a disease that
causes you to want to check your email more than 10 times a day.

I have it. So be careful... may be contagious. : )

P.S. Author Jon Benson documents his journey from obesity to
total leanness in EODD. He had to overcome 'real' diseases, like
pituitary failure from a high fever (i.e. viral pneumonia that
almost killed him) and clinical depression (partially what he calls
"his fault"; partially not... i.e. half disease, half biological
consequence.) He KNOWS what you can do once you have a solid
plan in place and a determined mind.

Then no "disease" can stop you... at least the ones that do not
kill you.

So go for it... be brave, be responsible... and be lean!

click.here ------> Every Other Day Diet

Jorma Persson