The Weight of Disease
Being overweight is a risk factor for many diseases. The excess weight places strain on the body's organs and systems, which contributes to the development and progression of disease. However, certain diseases and medical conditions can also lead to weight gain or difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight.
Is weight gain the chicken or the egg?
From my own experience, I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease (an auto-immune disease of the thyroid) in my early 20s which resulted in me gaining 2 stone in weight. I know that it was my over-consumption of the food that caused the weight gain. But what leads to over-eating? Whether its because we feel sorry for ourselves when we are ill and so we eat more, or if there are physiological effects of the illness that increase hunger perhaps does not matter. But gaining weight also makes us at a higher risk of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
My experience of illness leading to weight gain
Is obesity a symptom or a disease in itself?
In the UK, unlike other countries, obesity is not formally recognised as a disease. The scientists and policy makers can argue whether or not this is the case but I see being overweight, as a symptom rather than an illness. And the focus of the day is very much on “treating obesity” with diet pills, injections or even surgery rather than perhaps addressing the root cause.
Does treatment of the underlying disease resolve the problem?
In my case, it took over a year for my thyroid problem to be controlled enough for surgery and I still take thyroxine. But I don’t believe that this is the reason that I struggle with my weight. I like food, I eat too much nice food and so that is why I am overweight. Perhaps it is better to focus on what’s underneath the overeating, rather than the resulting symptom .
Is the answer to the obesity crisis to treat people medically?
The cost of the obesity is spiralling because its a contributory factor in so many diseases. However, as I discovered over 20 years ago in my research into the cost of depression related to obesity, the relationship between weight gain and illness is bidirectional. So in theory treating one of the conditions should have an impact on the other. But the reality is if we don’t get to the underlying case of the depression or the weight-issues, we are not going to resolve the problem.
Treating the underlying cause of the obesity will have a greater impact in helping people address overeating. Giving access to more medical treatments for obesity is not going to stop the behaviours at the root cause. We have seen many medicines developed for treating obesity over the years but these need to go hand in hand with addressing the underlying issues.
Is weight at the heart of a lot of our health struggles?
It’s difficult to know whether our propensity for food is causing weight gain that is increasing our risk of disease or, the increase in identification of conditions is contributing to our weight struggles. While obesity is commonly perceived as a lifestyle issue, it's important to acknowledge that certain medical conditions can influence weight regulation and metabolism in unexpected ways. Although obesity is a significant risk factor for various health conditions, it is not the sole determinant of illness so in reality that weight is not the only factor influencing well-being.
