Q:
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that obesity was the cause of 1 in 10 deaths in the United States. Also, obesity was the third-leading cause of death in men and women, after high blood pressure and smoking. Hence, many doctors believe that it’s high time obesity be placed in the category of serious diseases as it not only decreases life expectancy but also impairs the normal functioning of the body.
Which of the following statements, if true, undermines the given argument?
Answer & Explanation
Answer: B) Obesity is the result of eating of too much and of a sedentary lifestyle and cannot be defined as a disease per se.
Explanation: The given argument states that obesity should be categorized as a serious disease as it is known to decrease life expectancy and to harm the normal functioning of the body just like any other life-threatening disease. Option B undermines the argument by pointing out that obesity is mostly a lifestyle problem and not a disease. Compared to 40 years ago, people today spend more time commuting, sitting in front of a computer, watching television, playing video games, and generally exercising less, and end up burning fewer calories. Hence, option 2 is the correct answer.
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