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Philosophically, is obesity really a disease?
Margaret Steele1,2, Francis M Finucane2,3,4
1School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Summary
Obesity is a disease when viewed as a clinical dysfunction, but not when defined solely by body mass index (BMI). Clarifying this distinction is crucial for effective obesity prevention and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Medical Philosophy
- Public Health
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- The classification of obesity as a disease is debated, partly due to ambiguous terminology.
- The term 'obesity' is used in clinical medicine to denote metabolic dysfunctions and in public health contexts as a body mass index (BMI) category.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply philosophical disease concepts to differentiate the medical and BMI definitions of obesity.
- To clarify the ambiguity surrounding the disease status of obesity.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of disease criteria.
- Distinguishing between clinical and BMI-based definitions of obesity.
Main Results:
- Obesity, as understood in clinical medicine (metabolic dysfunctions), meets disease criteria.
- Obesity, defined solely by BMI, does not meet established disease criteria.
Conclusions:
- A clear distinction between clinical obesity and high BMI is necessary for public understanding and policy.
- This distinction can improve the prevention and treatment of obesity as a disease.
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