Is Obesity a Disease? Yes — and the Medical Community Is Finally Recognizing That

Deborah D. Gordon has spent her career trying to level the playing field for healthcare consumers. She is co-founder of, the premiere membership organization for independent advocates. She is the author of "The Health Care Consumer's Manifesto: How to Get the Most for Your Money," based on consumer research she conducted as a senior fellow in the Harvard Kennedy School's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.

Lofton noted that obesity is associated with more than 200 conditions. Many of these affect women and people assigned female at birth much more than men and people assigned male at birth. These conditions include:, anxiety and certain types of cancers. Obesity can pose risks to pregnant women, women trying to get pregnant and babies born to women with obesity.for obesity typically start with reducing calories and increasing exercise or activity.

“Just as in hypertension, or even cancer treatment, there is no one-size-fits-all model for obesity as a disease,” she said. Given how complicated obesity is, Lofton said more research is needed to find even more treatment options. For Michelle, medication seems to be working. After taking an AOM for the past four months, Michelle estimated that she’s lost 25 pounds, or a little more than a pound a week. She said she hasn’t dieted but just feels less interested in food. Though she has experienced side effects like nausea and fatigue, she’s noticed that her symptoms of have gone away, and she’s less achy. Her blood pressure has improved and she’s waiting for new liver function tests.

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