Opinion & Comment
Overweight and Diabetes: Immoral?

To The Editor:

While I generally enjoy your articles, I think you are off base by implying that obesity and diabetes are moral problems. I certainly agree that a person should strive for the madreigoh of self-control, and that people should make choices for themselves that lead to greater health. However, it seems to me that it is extreme to label someone "immoral" if they are overweight. I think that you are ignoring some basic medical facts about problem eating, genetic factors leading to obesity and decreased exercise capabilities, and environmental factors that lead to these problems. Obesity and diabetes-2 are best treated as a health problem, rather than a failure of morality.

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you knew of a person who very publicly violated issurim such as arayos or geneivoh, you would probably feel justified keeping your children away from that person's home, and perhaps it would even be muttar to discuss that person's flaws publicly. Does this mean we can treat overweight people who eat cake and kugel at the weekly kiddush the same way? I appreciate your concern for this epidemic problem, but I must really disagree with your approach to it in this editorial.

Thanks again for otherwise wonderful content.

Edward A. Hurvitz, M.D.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

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