title: Designation of obesity as a disease: lessons learned from alcohol and tobacco.
abstract: Obesity is a leading cause of preventable death in the USA. The American Medical Association recently recognized obesity as meeting the definition of a chronic disease. This declaration had the intention of improving screening and long-term treatment and is historically similar to the designation of tobacco and alcohol dependence as a chronic disease. Nevertheless, it has ignited a nationwide debate in both academia and public opinion. The current article reviews the implications of treating obesity as a chronic disease, comparing the similarities in pathophysiology of obesity and other addictions, and discusses the pros and cons of this designation as it pertains to health care workers and patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA, hurt.ryan@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Hurt
authors.forename: Jithinraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edakkanambeth Varayil
authors.forename: Manpreet S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mundi
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Martindale
authors.forename: Jon O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ebbert
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology