Obesity is often categorized as a lifestyle disease because it is largely influenced by daily habits and behaviors, such as poor dietary choices, physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, and chronic stress. However, it is increasingly recognized as a complex, chronic disease influenced by genetic, metabolic, psychological, social, and environmental factors—beyond just lifestyle alone.
🔹 Why Is Obesity Considered a Lifestyle Disease?
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Dietary Habits:
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High-calorie, low-nutrient diets (e.g., fast food, sugary drinks, processed snacks).
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Large portion sizes and frequent snacking.
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Physical Inactivity:
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Sedentary jobs, lack of exercise, prolonged screen time.
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Energy imbalance—calories consumed > calories burned.
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Behavioral Patterns:
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Emotional or stress eating.
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Lack of sleep or irregular sleep patterns.
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Addictive Behaviors:
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Food addiction (especially sugar and processed foods).
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Dopamine reward cycles similar to substance use.
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🔹 Reframing Obesity: A Chronic Disease
Global health authorities like the World Health Organization (WHO) and American Medical Association (AMA) classify obesity as a chronic disease, not just a lifestyle issue. This recognition:
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Shifts blame away from the individual.
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Promotes medical interventions: medications, bariatric surgery.
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Encourages insurance coverage and healthcare policy changes.
While lifestyle choices contribute significantly to obesity, it is oversimplified and stigmatizing to view it purely as a lifestyle disease. Obesity should be treated as a multi-factorial chronic medical condition requiring individualized, long-term, multidisciplinary management—including medical, surgical, behavioral, and community-level interventions.
Our weight loss comprehensive program provides long-term solutions for people who continually struggle with their weight. Here, patients find counseling, medical obesity screening, surgery, if indicated, and extensive follow-up by an expert team of experienced bariatric surgeons, advanced nurse practitioners, endocrinologist and dietitians. We also offer support group meetings for anyone considering surgery, those who have had surgery, or for the patient’s family members or friends.
We offer minimally invasive surgical options using the most advanced techniques for permanently treating obesity and its related complications.