If it's so simple, why are so many people obese? And why can't people maintain weight loss once they achieve it? If you're going to say they lack "willpower," then how did the massive change in willpower happen? (After all, if lack of willpower is the cause of the large increase in obesity, then logic dictates that willpower decreased as…
If it's so simple, why are so many people obese? And why can't people maintain weight loss once they achieve it? If you're going to say they lack "willpower," then how did the massive change in willpower happen? (After all, if lack of willpower is the cause of the large increase in obesity, then logic dictates that willpower decreased as weight increased). We live in an environment of constantly available hyperpalatable ultraprocessed food, and research has demonstrated that this leads to overconsumption (first link, Kevin Hall is the researcher to follow if you want to know more). Also, we now know that some people become addicted to this type of food (link #2). Do we all become addicted to it when exposed? No, just like we don't all get addicted to alcohol, drugs, etc. when exposed. We are all unique genetically, not to mention other contributing factors. Some people live in food deserts where whole foods are less available, some cannot afford to make most of their diets unprocessed (ultraprocessed foods are much cheaper than whole foods), and some folks experience greater life stress which leads to more eating of "comfort foods." My BMI is 23 so I'm not being defensive here, but I think it's high time we stop blaming victims. Yes, I believe in agency, but it's not as simple as you claim. It's like telling somebody with alcohol use disorder: "It's simple! Just stop drinking!"
I think you have answered your question. It might help if fat people knew that what they choose to eat is the reason they are fat (and usually sick). Why they choose to eat that way is, as you rightly say, a complex and multi-faceted problem. Out of interest, the only way to stop drinking is to stop drinking. How an individual gets there can vary of course - drugs, cold turkey, AA, rehab, hypnotism - but the objective is to stop consuming the things that cause the damage. Just the same as being fat. And no one ever recommends just drinking less to an alcoholic who has managed to stop, unlike with food addictions.
If it's so simple, why are so many people obese? And why can't people maintain weight loss once they achieve it? If you're going to say they lack "willpower," then how did the massive change in willpower happen? (After all, if lack of willpower is the cause of the large increase in obesity, then logic dictates that willpower decreased as weight increased). We live in an environment of constantly available hyperpalatable ultraprocessed food, and research has demonstrated that this leads to overconsumption (first link, Kevin Hall is the researcher to follow if you want to know more). Also, we now know that some people become addicted to this type of food (link #2). Do we all become addicted to it when exposed? No, just like we don't all get addicted to alcohol, drugs, etc. when exposed. We are all unique genetically, not to mention other contributing factors. Some people live in food deserts where whole foods are less available, some cannot afford to make most of their diets unprocessed (ultraprocessed foods are much cheaper than whole foods), and some folks experience greater life stress which leads to more eating of "comfort foods." My BMI is 23 so I'm not being defensive here, but I think it's high time we stop blaming victims. Yes, I believe in agency, but it's not as simple as you claim. It's like telling somebody with alcohol use disorder: "It's simple! Just stop drinking!"
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/12/why-are-americans-so-sick-researchers-point-to-middle-grocery-aisles/
https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/11/food-addiction
I think you have answered your question. It might help if fat people knew that what they choose to eat is the reason they are fat (and usually sick). Why they choose to eat that way is, as you rightly say, a complex and multi-faceted problem. Out of interest, the only way to stop drinking is to stop drinking. How an individual gets there can vary of course - drugs, cold turkey, AA, rehab, hypnotism - but the objective is to stop consuming the things that cause the damage. Just the same as being fat. And no one ever recommends just drinking less to an alcoholic who has managed to stop, unlike with food addictions.