Despite the very good evidence that obesity is largely genetic, it's just a fact-- that people who argue the author's point enjoy glossing over-- that obesity is much more common today, than in the past.

We have more fat people today per capita, even though the genetic makeup of our population is the same.

The reason is clear. Easy availability of cheap calories. The eating of which is a behavior that can be avoided.

People who are more prone to gaining wait certainly have it tough. But you still control what you put in your mouth.

There is a non-negligible amount of people who are fat that would not be fat if they ate different food. They are not excused from responsibility just because their genetics mean they have to exercise greater willpower than the rest of us.

Excused from responsibility? are you kidding me? What is this, fascist Russia?

I'd say that they are excused from being overweight though maybe not obese. And some people for numerous reasons tend to eat more. Its VERY easy for people like you to sit and judge in an overly simplistic fashion how much control one has over what one puts in his mouth, but perhaps not so easy for you to imagine the circumstances that might lead to such behaviour. Oh and for the record, my BMI is normal, though on the high side of normal, something i'm trying to control now by eating no sweets whatsoever, limiting my carbs, and only eating brocolli as a snack. Oh and I also run 2x a day. That being said, I'd NEVER look at a fat person and think, oh they just lack self-control. What a horrible Victorian-era, moralistic way to live!

Where is this "different food" going to come from?

I'm sure it makes you feel better about yourself to hate on the fattys.

But the truth is the rise in obesity, especially among children, is a direct result of incomes not rising at the same rate of inflation. Even before the record oil prices started working their way through every aspect of the economy, the middle and lower class were already taking home less pay in relation to the cost of goods than their counterparts in the 60s and 70s.

It is a shame that our diets, and our kids' diets, pass up nutrious meals for what gets served to them at our schools' cafeterias and quick and easy fast food at night and on weekends.

I'm sure all your friends at the organic grocery store are super smug about those other people who can't practice self control, but their problems derive from the fact they weren't fed with a silver spoon and had a U.S. government that hasn't cared about the health of its citizens since the late 70s.

gixxer and ncwebguy

I think you're missing the point here. The problem that a few folks had with this article is that the author claims that obesity is mostly genetic. But that is pretty strongly refuted by the fact that obesity has skyrocketed over the last few decades.

So clearly there's issues OTHER than genetics at play. I think that's what we're getting at.

Nobody is arguing that it can be very hard to eat well and be fit. Just that behavior is a MAJOR factor in obesity.

Also, nobody is arguing that the government can't do better by its people when it comes to health.

As a matter of fact, if anything, blaming obesity on genetics just lets everyone -- including the government -- off the hook.

So if you want to do better by obese people, you can start by admitting that it's not just genetics and then help figure out what the real problem is.

Look, I have been poor most of my life, and I KNOW you can eat healthy food on a negligable budget. It will be boring (less meat, less premade sugary treats, less variety) but it can ABSOLUTELY be done.

If your diet (or your kids' diets) pass up nutritious meals for cafeteria food and fast food, that is not the Government's fault! I work 50-60 hours a week, my husband has a full-time job and goes to night school, and we still have time to make a damn sandwich for lunch in the morning.

Genetics is a big component of both weight and height, but just as height is affected by the amount of protien in your diet (check height statistics for Asian men before and after WWII) weight is affected by what you put into your face. Eat a lot of fat, and you will likely get fatter.

The obesity epidemic wasn't inflicted on a bunch of helpless babies. We are adults; we control what we eat; we control what our children eat; and if you eat an unhealthy diet, you have no one to blame for your health but yourself.

I have naturally bad teeth, but I still brush and floss!

Freki

"Its VERY easy for people like you to sit and judge in an overly simplistic fashion how much control one has over what one puts in his mouth"

um... you have absolutely 100% control over what you put in your mouth.

unless, perhaps, you are a prostitute. even then, no means no.

seriously, how do you convince yourself you don't have control over what you put in your mouth? it IS simplistic. really, really simplistic. you have TOTAL CONTROL.

a damn sandwich, you are good.

seriously, I am laughing at the phrase.

bless you, and your damn sandwiches.