Should Obesity Be Considered a Disease?

The American Medical Association (AMA) has officially recognized obesity as a chronic disease. Defining obesity as a disease should spur physicians and patients — and insurers— to regard it as a serious medical issue. One in three Americans are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Is obesity a disease or a choice?

In June 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates voted to recognize obesity as a disease state requiring treatment and prevention efforts.

When was obesity considered a disease?

The decision by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2013 to recognize obesity as a disease state marked a key milestone in progress toward accepting obesity as a disease and advancing evidence-based approaches for its prevention and treatment.