Diary Of A Weight Loss Physician #11

Is Obesity A Choice?

This question has sparked so much debate in the scientific community and society at large.

This is such a complex question that I don't believe scientists, doctors and the general population should have a majority voice on.

Rather, the individuals that are actually grappling with this reality need to be heard!

In summary:

Those who say NO offer this perspective.

“Our impulse to eat and subsequent metabolism of the food is not a choice".

Weight is influenced by a dizzying array of genetics, biochemicals and hormones [1].

These all interact with our environment and impact us in powerful, subconscious ways!

And let's not get started on how exercise effects us in different ways! Some are luckier than others! [2]

Those who say YES offer this view.

“Okay...we may not control our cravings and metabolic response to calories, but we certainly choose that doughnut over a salad.” [3]

And we certainly have control over eating 1 instead of 2!

And when was the last time I even saw an obese person work out? [4]

Why is this such a critical discussion to have?

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

To make progress, we (scientists, doctors, government, insurance companies, pharma) need to agree upon what 'IS' in our control....and it would be so arrogant of us to not hear from those actually affected.

Why? Because current medical and surgical solutions are not scalable to address the global obesity pandemic [5,6].

Matter fact, not even scalable here in the US! [7]

People of this wonderful Reddit, I genuinely ask you. Looking back on your journey of who you were vs who you are and want to be.

Is obesity a choice?

[1]https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.706978/ful

[2] https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822%2821%2901120-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982221011209%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

[3] https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/74746/E90711.pdf

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554571/

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7003734/

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3936930/#:~:text=The%20current%20indications%20for%20bariatric,with%20significant%20weight%2Drelated%20comorbidities.

[7] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/oby.23468

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