With so much brouhaha on obesity, is gluttony a disease or choice then?
I know exactly when I overeat- my stomach tells my I am full;
My brain sends me signals that I am full;
My sluggish rhythm tells me that I should stop.I know I should,
But I just have to have that last piece, so I would know it's gone and not be tempted again.Right?
So what better place to save the last piece than in my already capacity filled stomach:).Aaah, the food tastes so good.
Or I am feeling under the weather and having a pity-party of two, myself and food that is.
Food gives me a happy feeling (short-lived though) because I realise that when the pity-party is gone, I feel much worse when I can't fit into my clothes or I become more sluggish then when I first started.
That makes me feel much worse because now I've gone and done it -ruined the victory I had achieved in dealing with weight. So I feel sad all over again and resort to eating more perhaps that would help lift the blues that I feel right now from not fitting properly into my dress.
The blues lift (albeit temporarily) and I go to try my clothes again and feel much more worse, because the fit is even worse than before and then I feel the blues all over again and resort to food to make me feel better...you know the rest. It's a vicious cycle.
Oh wait(happy ending:), perhaps I can substitute something in its place, I'll go read a book, or maybe call a friend
Perhaps take a walk or maybe....Yeah right. I'd rather sit and have this last bite, it tastes so good.(Not so happy after all LO:rolleyes:L)
I do agree that it's both a combo of choice and disease due to various factors, but I tend to side with some of the previous posters about the culture of obesity and how increasingly PC we have all become in assisting this increasing population....and how we have installed lifts in every room to accomodate patients up to 600 lbs, ordering bariatric beds much more frequently, having family members bring in lots of fast food...not to mention poor children who are raised in this environment. Americans have become so unhealthy with obesity and the other diseases/conditions it contributes to on the rise---and it's become more culturally acceptable, which can be a very scary thing.
I also agree with the poster who mentioned that due to genetics, others may not be able to lose weight easier than others....I remember being jealous of friends in school who could eat whatever they wanted and remain tiny as ever...and me, an overweight youngster was always having to watch what I ate, even though I was athletic and was involved in many activities (almost every one of my family member is overweight)...even now, I have to run a few extra miles to be able to indulge in something I want--and I'm totally a-ok with that--that's just how it is for me
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I think being super fat is punishment enough. I feel no need to further torture them.
Yep, they make life harder in many ways for many people, but everyone has their foibles. A lot of people have just as bad of things about them, but the difference is they are not visible to everyone so nobody starts a thread like this about them even though their "thing" may be a lot more destructive than "gluttony".
Specializes in ICU, Acute Dialysis, Telemetry/Stepdown.
How is discussing healthier lifestyle choices, and how unhealthy a present lifestyle is...punishment? I don't get it. Torture? Really?
In this same mindset, would discussing lifestyle changes for cardiac patients, diabetics, hemopheliacs, etc (pick any disease process and run with it)...be 'punishment' as well? If obesity is to be catagorized as a DISEASE, then it should be approached as a disease as well when treated. That means truthful diagnosis, treatment options, and INFORMATION on how to best deal with the disease.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
Discussion is good and appropriate. However, the way this thread was presented it had a very condemning tone.
I am not arguing that healthy life style should not be discussed, but merely that fat people get this kind of attention way more than others because their "bad" habit is obvious to all vs. other nasty harmful habits that are not visibly apparent......
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Hm. Is anorexia a choice or a disease? Or bulimia? Again, food is the issue, it's just the size of the person in question that's different. I'm not sure whether you're trying to be funny or actually being serious - if you're going for humor, I think it fell rather flat; in fact, "Not so happy after all LOL"
As far as it being a choice - as with the abovementioned disorders (anorexia and bulimia), I'd say they have a choice. Eat (or stop puking) or die. With all three -obesity, anorexia, and bulimia - there are underlying mental issues going on.
But I guess anorexia and bulimia just aren't as funny.
I have heard comedians make fun of all three.
Relax and don't be so offended. She's asking a valid question.
I say it's a choice until it beomes an addiction. Just like drugs, the first few types you take it your body/mind are not hooked yet. But than the tide turns... I think we could really do our patients and the country some good if we looked at obesity as an addiction and treat it as such. You know, insurance covering rehab stay etc.
if an action is "subconscious", how is it a choice.
A person who eats out of habit or boredom may not even realize why or how much there are eating, but they are still choosing to shove that whole bowl of popcorn into their mouth. No one is shoving it in for them or forcing them to do it. Therefore, choice.
i would venture to say that many overeaters, do so (in the absence of hunger) to fill an endless pit/hole.
that would be the emotional/psychological facet of 'gluttony'.
and if the aforementioned is true, then said gluttony, would be r/t a mental dysfunction that warrants intervention...
likely, long term.
the same holds true for any type of addiction...that it serves to fill an unfillable need, unless one gets help (which goes far beyond the act of physically stopping the habit in question).
If overeating were entirely psychological then it would be considered a mental illness but is it? Do we get psych referrals for our obese patients? Not usually, unless they show other outward signs of needing psychiatric intervention but on obesity alone? Not likely.
again, to imply it is a choice, is short-sighted and frankly, ignorant.
to imply it is a disease, undermines the capacity of man to acknowledge and be proactive in the plan of care.
it is both...a choice and disease, that warrants grueling, aggressive work to understand and manage.
We cannot refute the choice aspect of overeating. As long as that person is jamming that extra cheeseburger into their mouth, especially knowing full well it might kill them, they are choosing to do so. As for it being a disease well, I won't dispute that it may have disease physiology but the trouble with diagnosing it as such is that many people will use that as a crutch preventing them from getting the help they need. It takes the ownership out of overeating-related obesity giving the patient the false sense of security that the reason/outcome is out of their control.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
thanks once again, fribblet.
i agree...that words can only have the power that we ascribe to it.
as for "gluttony", i was automatically reminded of all sorts of addictive behaviors, and not just eating.
from dictionary.com: gluttony.
2. "a person with a remarkably great desire or capacity for something."
that would certainly be the neutral definition, yes?
as for disease or choice, i haven't a clue.
if i call it a choice, it makes all of us 'addicts' (smoker, here) seem totally weak and compulsive.
if i call it a disease, then it makes us helpless and hopeless.
i think it's an unhealthy combination of both.
but the bottom line is, if our psychs weren't so messed up, we wouldn't be 'addicted' to our vice of choice.
i do believe it's a complex, deep-rooted issue that merits further research, before calling it a mere 'choice', however.
leslie
With all due respect, I disagree. If words weren't that powerful, why do we have a TOS here? I can think of several words that are so loaded that using them would be extremely offensive and hurtful to certain people, but I wouldn't dare post them.
With all due respect, I disagree. If words weren't that powerful, why do we have a TOS here? I can think of several words that are so loaded that using them would be extremely offensive and hurtful to certain people, but I wouldn't dare post them.
Words are far from neutral.
Words are neutral. People aren't. The TOS is here to protect the overly sensitive and those who can't see the forest for the trees.
I can't count the amount of times I've been called a "Cracker." Given the pejorative nature of the term, I should be offended. Instead I find it hilarious. Offense rests entirely with the offended.
Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is what is and what is not offensive. Hell, they banned "Lolita" for years because they were too short sighted to look past it's ugly exterior and try and understand it, and many people missed out on reading a wonderful piece of literature for years. Same with "Ulysses" and countless other pieces of art.
And, just to be offensive ( ), some people really just need to pull the stick out of their ass and get over it. People just LOVE to be offended.
With all due respect, I disagree. If words weren't that powerful, why do we have a TOS here? I can think of several words that are so loaded that using them would be extremely offensive and hurtful to certain people, but I wouldn't dare post them.
Words are far from neutral.
i see your point, and i agree to an extent.
for example, i would never use the "n" word....i don't care if it was commonly used once upon a time.
in those days, black folks were treated despicably, and the folks that used the word, held the same contempt towards aa's.
so, there was no room for misinterpretation.
however, gluttony?
i guess what i'm saying, is i've used the word myself, and it wasn't in reference to obesity.
i've used it in terms of describing insatiable appetites for whatever...drugs, sex, shopping, etc.
so if a word has a broader meaning, then i'm not going to restrict myself in using that word.
you know, maybe it was a yr ago...
whenever it was, i described a poster as "middle-aged"...which she was (40's/50's..don't remember).
she took such offense to me calling her that.:confused:
i cannot help the associations that some folks hold with certain words.
as for tos, cuss words are just that.
same as verbal attacks...they can only mean one thing, and it's always negative.
but if there are words that clearly have more than one definition/meaning, then that's where the 'neutrality' comes in...
heck, even when i'm called a b^^ch, i can't get offended.
instead, i automatically smile.
again, it's because of the meaning i hold to it, and take it as almost complimentary.
but again, if a word has one definition only, then yes, it has meaning and power...
and that is because we know the speaker/writer's intent.
even then (knowing intent), i seldom take offense.
we're all in control, if we give ourselves that credit.
), some people really just need to pull the stick out of their ass and get over it. People just LOVE to be offended.
:confused:
krisjazzer13
69 Posts
I do agree that it's both a combo of choice and disease due to various factors, but I tend to side with some of the previous posters about the culture of obesity and how increasingly PC we have all become in assisting this increasing population....and how we have installed lifts in every room to accomodate patients up to 600 lbs, ordering bariatric beds much more frequently, having family members bring in lots of fast food...not to mention poor children who are raised in this environment. Americans have become so unhealthy with obesity and the other diseases/conditions it contributes to on the rise---and it's become more culturally acceptable, which can be a very scary thing.
I also agree with the poster who mentioned that due to genetics, others may not be able to lose weight easier than others....I remember being jealous of friends in school who could eat whatever they wanted and remain tiny as ever...and me, an overweight youngster was always having to watch what I ate, even though I was athletic and was involved in many activities (almost every one of my family member is overweight)...even now, I have to run a few extra miles to be able to indulge in something I want--and I'm totally a-ok with that--that's just how it is for me