AMA Declares Obesity a Disease

Although policies adopted by AMA have no legal standing, decisions are often referenced in influencing governmental bodies. This decision could have implications for provider reimbursement, public policy, patient stigma, and International Classification of Diseases coding.

Obesity is a pathophysiologic disease. There is a treatment for this disease; it involves behavioral modifications, medications and surgeons.

It’s like hypertension. Obesity is a disease. It's very, very, very clear that even though not every hypertensive gets a stroke and not every obese person suffers the complications, this does not change the fact that obesity is a disease.

Others feel that it’s more like smoking. Smoking isn't a disease. Smoking can cause disease such as lung cancer and emphysema in the same way that obesity can lead to diabetes and hypertension.

In other AMA actions, a policy that supports banning the marketing and sale of high-energy drinks to anyone younger than 18 years was adopted.

Also accepted was a policy that supports letting students have sunscreen at school without restrictions.