Adherence
Obesity should be clinically classified as a chronic, progressive, and relapsing disease rather than a lifestyle choice or mere risk factor, which is necessary to combat stigma and promote effective long-term management.
Understand that obesity is a chronic medical condition, not a character flaw. This means it requires long-term management strategies similar to other chronic diseases like hypertension or diabetes, rather than short-term 'fixes' based on willpower. Seek care from providers who view it as a disease to manage, not a failure to overcome.
our group of South and Southeast Asian obesity specialists identify obesity as a chronic disease... In choosing this wording, we aim to shift a variety of erroneous beliefs, for example, that obesity results from poor lifestyle choices or inadequate willpower... Rather, obesity is in itself a complex, progressive and relapsing disease requiring effective prevention and treatment.
Why this rating
Consensus recommendation based on clinical experience and recognition of stigma, supported by references to medical associations.
Source
Obesity in South and Southeast Asia—A new consensus on care and management
Kwang Wei Tham et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2022
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