Why You Are Not To Blame For Being Fat

Americans believe obesity is the biggest health threat in the nation today – bigger even than cancer. But though research shows that diet and exercise are insufficient solutions, a majority says fat people should be able to summon the will power to lose weight on their own. The findings are from a nationally representative survey of 1,509 adults released on 1 November by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, an independent research institute. The study, funded by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, found that concerns about obesity have risen. Just a few years ago, in a more limited survey, cancer was seen as the most serious health threat. Researchers say obesity, which affects one-third of Americans is caused by interactions between the environment and genetics and has little to do with sloth or gluttony. There are hundreds of genes that can predispose to obesity in an environment where food is cheap and portions are abundant. Yet three quarters of survey participants said obesity resulted from a lack of will power. The best treatment, they said, is to take responsibility for you, go on a diet and exercise. Obesity specialists said the finding went against evidence about the science behind the disease. It’s frustrating to see doctors and the general public stigmatizes patients with obesity and blames these patients, ascribing attributes of laziness or lack of willpower. Among the survey participants, 94% had tried to lose weight with diet or exercise, to no avail. A quarter of those people said they had tried five to nine times, and 15% said they had tried more than 20 times. Trying 20 times and not succeeding – is that lack of willpower, or a problem that can’t be treated with willpower.