[metabagel]

Also, meditate, fast intermittently, get therapy, and develop healthy ways of handling stress and dissatisfaction.

Everyone’s path is a little different. What is only a little difficult for some might be downright impossible for others (or feel that way).

[philipallstar]

No, those things aren't nearly as important. Handling stress and therapy can also be replaced by some physical activity as well.

General advice that would work for 95% of people shouldn't be criticised because it doesn't address the other 5%. If people did it then there'd be far more money in the system to pay for usefully targetted specialist treatment for those people.

[metabagel]

If we are talking about overweight people, then I think your 95% figure is backwards. Maybe 5% can stick to that regimen without addressing what’s going on between their ears. Likely, your perspective is skewed by the crowd you hang out with or from seeing other people at the gym. That’s not a representative cross-section of the population, particularly with respect to people who are overweight.

The emotional/psychological side is important, because the person must make long term changes in their lifestyle.

People tend to over-eat for a reason, and typically it is a reaction to stress or some emotional/psychological need which isn’t being met.

[metabagel]

Intermittent fasting can help with appetite suppression and blood sugar spikes. Our bodies didn’t evolve to snack all day long. More likely, we gorged and fasted depending on what was available.

There’s a book called “The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet” which promotes intermittent fasting to lose weight, and I think it’s on the right track, although the book recommends taking in calories only during a one hour period each day, which for me was too extreme.

I do think it’s beneficial to fast for at least 6 hours once a day, if possible. It’s good for your blood sugar as well as your gut. It can give you more energy and help you feel more like exercising.

[devjab]

Since we are pulling numbers out of our asses can you tell me what good advice that 95% of the people aren't capable of following is? It's great that our national health institutes advices us, but can you explain how the advice isn't completely useless in this particular context? To me it comes off as arrogant and rude.

[philipallstar]

I didn't say 95% of people aren't capable of following some advice. That would be bad advice. I'm saying this is good advice, because 95% of people can follow it.