[bluescrn]

Depression -> comfort eating/alcohol -> weight gain -> depression.

Doesn't matter what initiates the cycle, but once you're in it, it's very hard to get out. You're not likely to manage to 'just exercise more'/'just eat less' once the depression sets in.

It's easy to not be too bothered to begin with, when you're just 'a bit fat' and 'mildly depressed', but the problems can slowly build up year upon year until you're morbidly obese and having regular thoughts of suicide.

Sedendary screen-based jobs don't help, neither does work-related stress. And the Covid period (lockdowns/WFH/isolation) put the cycle into overdrive for some.

These new drugs are a possible escape from that cycle, significantly reducing the willpower required to eat less.

[gadders]

I heard someone say that our current food "environment" (highly tasty calorific food with adverse nutritional value; "unhealthy" food being cheap; etc) is a bit like when you are in a casino. Every aspect of it is designed to make you spend (or eat) more.