[Derrek]

What really irks me about this article is that the author uses anecdotes and vague references to science to strengthen his stance. Not only is this shoddy reporting, but it commits a much worse crime. It commits the crime of giving the obese an easy out, a way to say, "Hey, it's not really my fault so I shouldn't even bother to try to lose weight." No. Wrong.

I've personally seen dozens of people go from being very overweight to being healthy and fit. How'd they do it? Through lots of very dedicated, smart work in their diets and exercise. Now, maybe those experiences were simply aberrations that somehow converged on my life--but I doubt it.

[mattmaroon]

There's very little easier than selling people on the idea that their problems are not of their doing, but rather come from environmental factors beyond their control. When you're arguing that angle, you don't need things like science or facts.

[ajscherer]

Those people are definitely aberrations, especially if they have managed to keep the weight off for 5 or more years. Also, isn't the second paragraph of your comment doing the exact thing you were criticizing in the first (using "anecdotes and vague references" to strengthen your stance)?

I don't think the obese are looking for an easy way out. I think they are looking for a way to lose weight. How many obese people do you know that haven't even tried to lose weight?

It is certainly true that it is physically possible for most people to lose weight (I personally took off 110 lbs and kept it off for 2 years now), the fact remains that most people who want to lose weight and try to lose weight fail. This suggests to me that it requires some trait that the average person simply doesn't have enough of.

I view the situation as very similar to drug addiction. Everyone who suffers from one knows what they need to do, and most of them try, but very few are successful. The difference is kids aren't provided drugs like they are crap foods, and you don't need to take drugs every day to stay alive. So in some ways obesity is even thornier (although I think the brain chemistry a dieter is up against isn't as strong as that of a drug addict).

Ultimately it is easy for a non-obese person to say "this is what obese people need to do and they are choosing not to", and maybe that feels good to you, but it accomplishes nothing.

[Derrek]

But I'm able to use anecdotes because I'm not a MD/PhD writing an article in a major US publication