Obesity Debate Essay Example for Free

Obesity Debate EssayIn the five share denomination, Rethinking Weight by Amanda Spake, the author outlines the conflict surrounding whether corpulency classifies as a illness. Spake discusses the prevalence of obesity in America and sheds light on the inclination that obesity may contain genetic roots. The article continues with the authors insights into whether encumbrance or fitness retains the most importance. Spake concludes the article with thoughts on the growing take of insurance policy coerage and obesity interference. The author guides that At the heart of this obesity epidemic is a debate over whether obesity is a biological infirmity and should be treated like any other life-threatening illness cancer, heart complaint or whether it is simply a risk factor for these killers (282). Spake successfully supports the claim by incorporating a narrative account, explaining the biology, psychological science, and scientific research of obesity, and stating how hostelry may already classify obesity as a disease, but Spake strays from the intellect of obesity qualifying as a disease when she describes the role insurance companies play when paying for obesity treatment.The article begins with a narrative account of female horse Pfisterer. Spake uses Maria Pfisterers story to reveal the struggles obesity and dieting inflict upon a person. According to the author, Pfisterers many attempted diets, in terms of weight All resulted in a little lost and more regained, which supports the idea of weight and dieting inflicting a constant burden in the lives of many Americans (282). Spake in like manner included in the story of Pfisterers weight battle the idea that no matter how hard Pfisterer tried to lose weight or what order Pfisterer thought to try, the weight never permanently disappeared, which in turn supports the concept of obesity being more than just a physical ailment.The author excessively discusses the possible treatment of gastric b ypass surgery for Pfisterer, which remains unavailable to Pfisterer due to the high cost and specific criteria an individual must possess in order to receive the surgery. The narrative story provides an appeal to emotions by showing one womans struggle with weight and the effect that struggle embodies in Pfisterers life. The story similarly provides a persuasive element, influencing a want for Pfisterer to achieve her personal weight goals.The author pinpoints a persons biology and psychological state as possible factors in the development of obesity. Xavier Pi-Sunyer from the Obesity Research Center at St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital suggests obesity is a biologically opinionated process (282). Many weight researchers also believe that obesity is controlled by a powerful biological system of hormones, proteins, neurotransmitters, and genes that regulate fat storage and body weight and tell the brain when, what, and how much to eat (284). Rudolph Leibel, a Columbia University geneti cist, also states, I believe there are strong genetic factors that get hold susceptibility to obesity (285).The given beliefs demonstrate how obesity qualifies as more than a personal decision. A persons biology resists changes therefore, the idea of obesity as a biological condition contains validity for Spakes claim. The author also includes Brian Wansinks perspective, obesity is not just biology its psychology (286). The brain plays a key role in how obesity operates differently in individuals. The author continues to explain how, psychologically, obese individuals hold no control over the eating habits the overweight display. Spakes inclusion of biological and psychological ideas presented by reliable professionals persuades critical audiences to agree with the authors claim.Scientific research also plays a part in the obesity debate. Spake uses a variety of logos and ethos information to support the claim of the ongoing debate over the classification of obesity. The article i ntegrates the use of statistics from various studies on weight and obesity to solidify the authors beliefs. The author gives a shocking statistic that A majority of Americansnow 64 percentare overweight or obese and struggling to conquer their expanding waistlines before their fat overtakes their health (282).A study done of twins showed that 20 to 70 percent of weight issues developed through inheritance. other study conducted by RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions stated, the nation is spending about $75 billion a year on weight-related disease (283). Spake even includes the statistic saying that, Simply eating with one other person increases the average amount eaten at meals by 44 percent, which refers to the psychological aspect of obesity (286). The authors use of statistical information provides a strong backing for Spakes claim about the obesity debate.Although not officially categorized as a disease, some organizations in society already li st obesity as a disease. Spake chooses to include examples of situations in society where obesity may already encompass similar characteristics to a disease. The diseases that result from excessive amounts of weight embody a with child(p) situation described by the author. Almost 80 percent of obese adults have one of these conditions, and nearly 40 percent have two or more, Spake suggests when referring to diseases, such as heart disease, Type II diabetes, and high cholesterol that relate to the presence of obesity.Another example the author mentions confirms that, The WHO has listed obesity as a disease in its International Classification of Disease since 1979. Spake raises concern as to why obesity still remains uncategorized as an official disease when large quantities of overweight individuals contract other diseases due to the affliction of obesity and when a substantial organization already includes obesity in a database of diseases. Another statistic included in the discuss ion reads About 325,000 deaths a year are attributed to obesity (283). This shocking statistic sparks the question of why obesity lacks the definition of a disease even further.However, the author strays from her claim when insurance problems come into the article. Bringing the topic of insurance into the discussion provides no backing for any of the authors claim. Spake chose to incorporate that The health insurance industry argues that obesity treatmentscant be covered (287).The claim refers to whether obesity classifies as a disease, not the effect of insurance coverage on those affected by obesity. Also, the author included that the costof treatment and health insurance will escalate (288). The price tag of treatment and rising insurance costs gives no support to the debate of obesity classifying as a disease that Spake claims as the purpose of the article. The inclusion of the insurance tanning distracts from the key issues the article puts forth, leaving readers to question t he main idea of the article.In summation, Spake successfully supports the claim by incorporating a narrative account, explaining the biology, psychology, and scientific research of obesity, and stating how society may already classify obesity as a disease, but Spake strays from the claim when she describes the role of insurance companies in paying for obesity treatment.Works CitedSpake, Amanda. Rethinking Weight. paternity and Reading for ACP Composition. Comp. Thomas E. Leahey and Christine R. Farris. New York Pearson Custom Publishing, 2009. 285-88. Print.