Should obesity be treated as an eating disorder?

I saw on the news this morning a woman who weighs 42 stone, is bedridden and feels as though the NHS have given up on her. Although she made a few dodgy excuses, I can't help but think her main point was a valid one.

You wouldn't tell an anorexic person to just eat, its not as simple as that as there are underlying psychological problems. So why do we tell obese people to just stop eating? there are clearly underlying psychological causes to that as well.

So should obesity be classed as an eating disorder and treated in the same way with specialist care?

What do you think?

This is a hard question to answer!

I think it is very difficult to judge on this as her weight is so high and I think many factors contribute to this.

I am sure lots of people will think that it is just down to over-eating- which I am sure is the main factor in Obesity, but Clinical Morbid Obesity I think have many factors to cause it.

I think the body malfunctioning and mental illness all help to play in Morbid Obesity and so I do think it should be treated as an eating disorder and so Specialised care should be given.

It is very sad isn't it. I remember watching a programme about an American man who was put into a special hospital for this but his wife kept sneaking in McDonalds for him.... because his craving for food was greater than his will to live. He died very shortly after that.......it's a horrible illness.

you have a very good point there and I think it is a perfectly valid argument
I'm sick of this liberal, make excuse for every single little problem, society that we live in! They are fat cause they stuff too much chocolate and microwave dinners down their cake holes with out doing any exercise. No other reason!

I'd give them three strikes then they are out (of the NHS system). I pay a ridiculously large amount each year in tax, and for what? Scroungers and fatties!!!

Wide loads! Just stop eating so much!!!
im on the fence with this one... the eating too much is an eating disorder, but the sitting on your **** all day... thats just lazy.
yes
I definately someone like that, has to really seriously cut from food, well if they carry on , thats their fault, they are recieiving help , you know specialist care , they just suffering , unfortunetly.
Why do people care so much about it ?

It is only the obese people who should be concerned and they should seek specialist treatment from doctors.