[Balero]

I feel this view is massively overblown in media. Do I read stories about people blaming others for their problems, showing no personal responsibility? Absolutely, all the time, especially in mass media.

Day to day, people I know, people I overhear. people I talk to , show lots of personal responsibility. Sure they might skip the gym, or eat some cake. But they take responsibility for that, and themselves at large.

Frankly its easier to sell newspapers or get views by talking about someone we can look at and say "Wow, I know I skipped the gym today, but I'm not that bad", than to hear an altogether more boring story of the 99% that are basically the same as ourselves.

[chiefalchemist]

Ok. But the percentage of adults who are overweight or obese is somewhere around 70%. If we presume 10% is not preventable - that is they have a med condition - then what of the other 60%? Who is feeding those people? Who is forcing them to the sofa?

I understand it's not that simple (e.g., gut bacteria has been tied to weight control). None the less i know people who had what I would consider serious med issues (e.g., cancer) and made no change in lifestyle.

Yes, I'm generalizing. I apologize. But the obesity rate doesn't match well with self responsibility.

[xtreme]

Maybe they just don't see the value in losing weight? People smoke and drink despite being well aware of the associated risks, what's so different about food?

[chiefalchemist]

That's my point. We've nornalized the abnormal. We've turned (potential) illness into a massive (pun intended) market for self help "gurus" (e.g., Oprah).

95% of the messages are: eat what you want, what matters is you still love yourself." Too few add that the extra weight is unhealthy.

[nradov]

There are no medical conditions which can make the human body violate the first law of thermodynamics.