medicalization
/ˌmɛdɪkəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
The process by which non-medical problems or life conditions—in this case, pet weight management—are increasingly treated through medical interventions, such as drugs and professional veterinary therapies.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Latin 'medicus' (physician) combined with the suffix '-ize' and '-ation', indicating a process or result. It entered English in the 20th century to describe the social and economic trend of applying medical models to various aspects of daily life.
In the news
In the article, the term describes a shift in the pet care industry where owners and companies are moving beyond just premium food toward a focus on clinical treatments, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical weight-loss solutions for animals.
Fat cat? Weight-loss drugs may be coming for your overweight pet
Read the full article ↗CNBC