The AMA officially designated obesity as a disease in hopes that such recognition will help change the way the medical community tackles this complex issue. Obesity affects approximately one-third of all Americans and is often linked to higher incidences of both cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. By so doing, the AMA is trying to make it easier for policymakers to make changes, as has happened before with the public health issues of smoking and driving safety. Such recognition could also spur greater investment by government and the private sector to develop and reimburse obesity treatments and prevention programs.
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