Well, Now: Doctors Agree: Obesity is a Disease. The Public Needs to Catch Up.
Ever since it showed up on the Body Mass Index, the label \u201cobese\u201d has been used to judge and often shame people with larger bodies.\nMedical providers, family and friends, even strangers make assumptions about fat people\u2019s health solely based on their size.\nAt the same time, excess quantities of fat can lead to poor health outcomes such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.\nOver the decades, medical associations have evolved their understanding of obesity. The American Medical Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Obesity Society all classify obesity as a disease requiring medical treatment.\xa0\nHow does that change the way medical providers care for their obese and overweight patients? And does that mean people with fatter bodies can now face less discrimination?\nAs a part of a series of ongoing conversations on Well, Now on weight and health, we discuss the current medical definition of obesity and how to treat it with Dr. Angela Fitch, former Associate Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center.\nIf you liked this episode, check out: The Isolation of a Life-Threatening Diagnosis\nWell, Now is hosted by registered dietitian nutritionist Maya Feller and Dr. Kavita Patel.\nEditing and podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry with oversight from Alicia Montgomery.\nSend your comments and recommendations on what to cover to wellnow@slate.com\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices