When did overeating become a disease/sickness?

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   John Sarkisposted 11 years ago

   When did overeating become a disease/sickness?
   
   ...centuries ago, people's main preoccupation was loosing appetite.  In part, because it typically meant that you could be suffering from consumption (TB), or, perhaps a venereal disease of some sort or other?  All said, no one in those days associated gluttony (using this term) with a sickness.  When did this change?

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   Perspycaciousposted 11 years ago

   Overeating became a disease when it reached the level of obesity and morphed into heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

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      John Sarkisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well said.  I was seeing documentary stating people in starving countries (Mexico, India) are now overweight, because now eat, - not food, but food products - p.chips, candy bars, soda, etc.

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   tnvrstarposted 11 years ago

   I do not know the definition of overeating sickness because all of my family members are skinny. I know it's an awkward answer but that's how I feel. I know many people who are eating a lot but fit and living healthy. On the other hand I know people who are always dieting to lose weight but can't do so.

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   daughtersonposted 11 years ago

   Pioneers ate huge breakfasts and dinners but they worked their asses off.  Today people eat unhealthy food full of fat, sugar and carbohyrades and no physical exercise.  Centuries ago the food was pure, no additives and not a lot of sugar.  Food and excercise was the secret then and it is the  problem now.  In the past you at least had to walk.  Hard work and a good meal.  Today a good meal and sitting at a desk all day.  We are no longer physical.  We eat and eat but we don't walk and we don't chop wood or work in the fields.

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      John Sarkisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      In those days, there were no flavor enhacements - only sugar, salt, and they also used pork fat, because it makes food taste really good.

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   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   Anything a human being does can be abused, drinking, eating, video games. If the person has an addictive personality, and turns to food for comfort or something along those lines, it can in time become an addiction.
   
   It is very hard for people who are not troubled by a particular addiction to understand how someone can become addicted:  they tend to think the person is lazy or weak.

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      John Sarkisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you.  I think it's interesting how 200 years ago people ate large quantities of food and no one associated that with "eating disorders," but  in fact with good health; today, you're a glutton.

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   Gabriel Wilsonposted 11 years ago

   Over eating became a illness (obesity) when under activity became the norm. Centuries ago people ate in abundance when food was abundant (after a kill or harvest) because on like the modern man they couldn't pop out to the nearest supermarket when the larder went dry.
   Of course all our labour saving devices weren't invented either; hence Rome wasn't built in a day. Travel was mainly by foot unless you were wealthy enough to own a horse; and horse riding burns a few calories. People walked and people worked using their own brut strength and they sure weren't eating Mcdonalds!
   Today we are slaves of modern technology; many of us don't even eat fresh foods and must of us don't walk the lenght of ourselves.
   In answer to your question; in a nut shell, when technology evolved to do the hard work and humans decided to sit on the fence, food became a luxury and overeating became an illness... too much of anything will always be bad for you; eventually...

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   Express10posted 11 years ago

   I agree with Perspycacious. When the undeniable links between excess weight and various diseases including diabetes, arthritis, cancer, etc. became clear, the medical community classified overeating as a disease. If you really watch people around you eat you may see some startling differences in eating behaviors. In addition overeating is a disease that is common here in the west but it is gaining steam as our chain restaurants and large portion sizes move east.

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   Dont Taze Me Broposted 11 years ago

   
   
   "When did overeating become a disease/sickness?" I know, isn't that just stupid! Disease! REALLY? Yea, that's what liberals want you to believe so they can control you and what you eat. What they won't tell you (but everybody knows) is people have metal fillings in their teeth. Their refrigerator magnets keep pulling them into the kitchen. That's why it's difficult for people to lose weight!

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      SaritaJBonitaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      lol... I hope that was a joke.  I will use that excuse from now on, thanks!

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      John Sarkisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      lol  Not exactly, because nothing tastes like warm apple pie and you need oven for that... lol

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   peachpurpleposted 11 years ago

   over eating is a disease. It will result to obesity and various illness occur in long term run. Weight increase and normal growth is affected too.

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    Borsiaposted 11 years ago

    As many others have said in the past the detrimental affects of obesity weren't known.
    But if you look back in time you will also see that what we perceive as beauty has also changed.
    200 years ago being fat was a sign of wealth and prosperity. Look at adverts from those times and you won't see a thin man or woman anywhere.
    Loo at statistics as well and you will see that people were much shorter on average and of course life spans were much shorter.

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    Get Thin for Goodposted 11 years ago

    I think people have already answered your question. However, you may be interested to know that the first case of obesity was reported in the 1800's.
    
    And when all's said and done, gluttony is a sin (and I can say so because I have been a food addict/overeater).
    
    The thing is that overeating/food addiction is on the same level as drug and alcohol addiction, but may actually be more devastating to give up since people can stop using substances, but a food addict cannot stop eating food.

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    Angela Kaneposted 11 years ago

    I think overeating became a disease when it started to make people fat and unhealthy and cause early deaths. I don't the act of overeating is a disease, but I do think it causes a lot of diseases.

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