Do You Have Couch Potato Syndrome?

What will they think of next? The International Classification of Disease has grown to a voluminous tome over the years but can they make room for "Couch Potato Disease"? Let's hope not.

A report from News Medical Net states that according to Australian scientists, being a couch potato may actually be an illness. They say extreme laziness may have a medical basis, and have given it the impressive title of 'motivational deficiency disorder'. Can you believe this? I suppose MDD has a nice ring to it.

The common condition apparently affects up to one in five Australians and is characterised by overwhelming and debilitating apathy. I must say I have seen this, but not only in Australia. Evidently neuroscientists at the University of Newcastle in Australia believe that in severe cases motivational deficiency disorder can be fatal, because the condition reduces the motivation to breathe. That I find just a little far fetched actually.

This new disorder was identified by Professor Leth Argos, a neuroscientist at the University of Newcastle. Argos and his team identified the disorder, which can be diagnosed using a combination of positron emission tomography (PET scans) and low scores on a motivation rating scale, previously validated in elite athletes.

Professor Argos says the disorder is poorly understood, underdiagnosed and undertreated. I can't say I'm surprised.

Professor Argos is an adviser to a small Australian biotechnology company, Healthtec, which is currently concluding phase II trials of indolebant, a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist designed to cure the disease. How wonderfully convenient that he should discover an illness, develop a marketable name for it and be the only person with a treatment ready for market. Good one Professor A.

Healthtec has apparently hired a large global PR company to develop a secret marketing campaign to convince everyone that laziness is a disease which is problematic. In preparation, of course, for marketing the solution to them.

However many experts are uncomfortable with the fact that laziness is being promoted to a disease status. Claiming to be concerned, they are calling for discussion over the trend towards corporate definitions of diseases with a primary interest in making profits rather than a concern for public health. I hope they are sincere and not just miffed that they didn't think of the idea themselves. Who can tell?

One such expert Professor David Henry of the School of Medical Practice and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, NSW has called for discussion on what has been termed "disease mongering." Well that's very noble of David, but that's exactly what the medical profession has always done. Some would just call it marketing of professional services or in higher brow terms, promoting the interests of the profession.

The University of Newcastle will host a conference to 'hopefully bring together academics, researchers, health professionals, health managers, journalists, writers and consumers who share an interest and concern over the trend to corporate definitions of diseases with a primary interest in making profits rather than a concern for the public health'. Oh please, stop this, if I laugh any more I'll be sore all day tomorrow!