Excess Weight

Excess weight is a medical definition for a person whose body has an excessive accumulation of fat that may cause damage to health. Obesity can be caused by lifestyle, excessive consumption of foods rich in sugar and fats, lack of physical activity, and is also influenced by physical nature, as many percentages of the population have a tendency towards obesity.

Obesity is recognized by health organizations worldwide as a disease, with over 20% of the population defined as overweight, and according to health organizations, they are at risk for heart disease, liver and kidney function problems, diabetes, and hypertension.

Diet

A weight loss diet is a nutritional lifestyle aimed at creating a continuous calorie deficit leading to a decrease in body mass and weight reduction. Sometimes part of the diet includes removing meat from the food menu, like vegetarianism.

Stomach Reduction

Gastric banding (or "stomach reduction") is the name of a surgery designed to treat obesity. In this surgery, an adjustable band is installed around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch with a volume of twenty cubic meters and a narrow passage toward the larger part of the stomach. About six weeks after surgery, the band is inflated by injecting fluid through a subcutaneous reservoir connected to it. This way, the band can be tightened and the diameter of the passage reduced. The installation of the band in gastric banding surgery creates an early feeling of fullness and helps reduce the amount of food consumed. Patients naturally feel less need to eat. All food is then digested in a manner similar to before the surgery. There is no change in the function of the digestive system. Weight loss is achieved through a significant reduction in food consumption due to the feeling of fullness after eating very small amounts of food.

In Judaism

In the Torah, a fat person is referred to as "ish bari" (healthy man), and in the language of the Sages as "baal basar" (one with flesh).

It is told about the Amora Rav Papa bar Abba that he was a baal basar. It is also related that when the Tannaim Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon would converse with each other, a pair of oxen could pass between their legs without touching them. Additionally, the Gemara counts the body size of Rabbi Yochanan and Rav Papa. The Tosafot explain that the Gemara's intention in mentioning this is so that people would not speak ill of others who are also baal basar.

The Rebbe Rayatz (Previous Rebbe) relates in the name of his father, the Rebbe Rashab: "From spiritual pleasure in Elokut (Divinity), there can result fatness in the body. It is said about Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl that he became fat in his body from answering 'Amen Yehei Shmei Rabba'".

Regarding a person refraining from eating and drinking things that are harmful to him, although it is forbidden for a person to prevent himself from eating and drinking without reason, when he does so for health purposes, and does not completely prohibit himself from putting this food or drink in his mouth, but only reduces it - there is no prohibition in this at all.

The Rebbe's Approach

The Rebbe addressed the phenomenon of obesity that in the last generation, as a result of material abundance, has become more and more common, and emphasized several points regarding this:

• Doctors exaggerate in their medical assessments about the extent of damage from excess weight.
• Specifically diverting attention from the subject can ease the struggle and help restrain from excessive eating.
• Peace of mind, when a person is not stressed about his weight, directly eases the body's metabolism and weight loss.

Diet

• There is no benefit in imposing a new lifestyle on an adult, and it must come from him.
• Sometimes the pressure itself causes a person to avoid treatment, and specifically when they ease up on him - he will turn to seek professional help.
• When a doctor prescribes a diet, it should be done moderately and without excitement, which could harm the nerves.
• "Regarding eating and diet - it's not so much about what one eats (as long as it is properly kosher), but rather the intention of eating: to fulfill desire or hunger alone, or in order to be healthy and consequently do good deeds, etc."

Gastric Bypass Surgery

• It's a shame to get involved with such surgery just for heaviness of flesh. The Rebbe writes: "The question is surprising whether to get involved in surgery... of reducing the stomach and its unclear consequences (as much as needed) etc.! - And the only reason - that the woman is heavy of flesh?! This is absurd." But it is understood that in cases where there are good reasons, the matter depends on the doctor's opinion.

See Also

• Vegetarianism
• Preventive medicine