[jrapdx3]

Sorry, should have been more explicit, but you've correctly deciphered all the obscure abbreviations.

I think your questions point to the gist of the matter: obesity is not a simple problem to understand or to solve.

There certainly is evidence that obesity is a "disease of civilisation". Over the last 5 or 6 decades the real prevalence of obesity, diabetes, depression, autoimmune disorders have sharply risen in concert in the industrialized world, but far less so in third world nations.

While many hypotheses have been put forward, the reasons remain a mystery. It seems possible, even likely, the issues surrounding obesity will not be settled in my lifetime.