Many people view obesity as a weakness of character or lack of willpower that allows individuals to eat so much they gain tremendous amounts of weight. Recently, however, an increasing number of experts are viewing obesity as a disease that affects millions of people, including children and teens.

According to the American Obesity Association, "When there is too much body fat, the result is obesity. Obesity is not a sign of a person being out of control. It is a serious medical disease that affects over a quarter of adults in the United States, and about 14% of children and adolescents. It is the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking."The association points out that obesity fits all the medical definitions of a disease, those definitions being "an interruption, cessation, or disorder of a bodily function, organ, or system."The disorder...