Should Obesity Be Classed As A Disability?

Of course being obese does disable you physically as you become limited in what you can do for yourself etc, but (im asking this in england and basing this on the english benefit system) obesity being self inflicted surely before we start giving disability allowance out that maybe we should help them get fit and over their 'addiction' to food?

I guess what im trying to get across is that i have a slight problem with that kind of disability (self inflicted through eating too much) being lumped in the same pile as others who truly to have disabilitys through no fault of their own, mentally and/or physically, okay so back to the question, should it be classed as a disability? thank you

I don't believe it should be.

But there are a few people who are obese through not fault of there own due to underlying condition that makes it difficult to loose weight or maintain their weight. Therefor if they can prove they have an underlying condition that causes their obesity then should be entitled to a disability payment, and relevant services are put in place to help them maintain and control their condition.

Conditions that can cause obesity are;
Prader-Willi syndrome - chromosomal disorder
Pituitary disorders/disease including tumors, cancer
Under active thyroid
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Cushing's syndrome
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome - genetic disorder
Polyphagia
Cohen Syndrome - genetic disorder

And there are many more underlying conditions that cause obesity, therefor the doctor has to be vigilant in looking for characteristics of underlying causes of obesity, and do tests when and where needed, and then set appointments with, dietitians, physical therapy etc and medication when and where needed.

I personally know of one person who was told for years that they were lazy and where not eating properly, they were recently diagnosed with an underlying condition that had been over looked for twenty years, even though they had told the doctor many times of signs and symptoms they were suffering.

They are now having major problems with sorting out medication, and loosing the weight, because of other disorders have now started to show, because of the first condition not being treated appropriately.

Obesity itslef is not a disability-ther is no need to make it a disability

As you said-the complications of obesity are what is disabling-

It's not always because of laziness-

medications to minimize the effect of other disabilities can cause weight gain-some people honestly have a biological problem that causes them to be obese-

I've known some very active people who don't eat much more than usual that wer obese-no matter what they did -they just could not lose the weight-

sometimes other disabilities limit the amount of exercise a person can do and limits their ability to shop and prepare healthy foods.......

i think it shouldnt be
i think obesity is a choice to
i hate it when a lot of people are like
oh its not there fault !
its just like looking at some guy whos on drugs
and saying
its not his fault, he cant help it !

you just gotta have self control
and excersize and eat right
being obese is just as bad as
smoking almost
becuase by being obese people
are slowly killing themselves !
no joke

I don't believe it is a disability.

They still rate obesity as if it were high cholesterol but nothing that slow or disable a body.

If it were a slower heart rate (cardiovascular problem), Social Security would have take that as an consideration for disability because the body can't handle cardiovascular activity.

Gosh I hope that in the UK obesity is NOT considered a disability--in 99% of the cases that would be a big joke. Here in the US so many are overweight that 3/4 of the population would be on the dole. A really sad and ridiculous state of affairs--just as silly as the people trying to sue McDonald's for "making them fat." Believe me, its been tried!

in my opinion i consider it complete laziness, the country is in a condition that it thinks it can do what it like so therefore it does, and gets away with it. this time last year i weighed in at a whopping 23 stone, even at 6ft 4in that was too much weight to carry about. now after getting my **** out of the "couch potato" state, and doing exercise i.e. gym 4 times a week and rugby training with a game on a saturday i am now a comfortable 18.5 stone.

If it is caused by a genuine physical problem, then yes, depending on how life-limiting it is, it could be considered a disability.

If caused simply by overeating or lack of exercise... not so much.

Obesity itself is not a disability, but it can be a symptom of some disabilities. It can also be caused by failure to take care of one's health by not eating right or exercising.

Not in an of itself, absolutely not. However there are many conditions that can cause or exacerbate a weight problem, and those should absolutely be treated as the disabilities they become.

No, because people who are deaf, blind, etc. can't do anything about that.

Obese people can do something, exercise.

They are just to lazy.

No. Obesity should not be classified as a Disability.

no its classed as suicide

No

So should a person who rides his motorcycle too fast and runs into a wall and suffers a spinal cord injury not get any disability benefits because they caused their disability?

Or a person who doesn't watch their diet/ test their blood sugar properly and has diabetes and has their leg amputated should they not get disability benefits?

If a person smokes and gets lung cancer - they should not get disability benefits?

If a person listens to rock music too loudly and becomes deaf - should they not get disability benefits?

If a person has epilepsy and knows they have seizures and drives - has a seizure - and has an accident - should they not get treatment for their traumatic brain injury.

People do not get morbidly obese out of choice. Some get that way because of psychological problems, others because of drugs they have to take for other conditions, others because of an untreated medical condition - many do overeat, but it has been found over and over overeating is often not the primary cause - inactivity is.

Inactive is what many people with pain issues become - and it becomes a circular problem - inactivity leads to weight gain, weight gain leads to more pain, more pain leads to more inactivity.

Morbid obesity is a disability. It is life threatening. A person 200 pounds overweight is going to need a lot more than to get fit and get over their addiction to food - they are going to have medical issues that need resolution. They are never going to be a person who doesn't need medical support as their health is likely forever compromised.

Where is compassion toward fat people that is shown to most people with disabilities who often do in fact cause their disabilities - or make them worse?

No because all you have to do is exercise a little self control.

No. Thats rewarding people who are lazy.

just give them free diet pills.