It's shameful how the growing level of unhealthy obesity in adults and children has resulted in an obsession with weight loss plans and pills that promise quick fixes. I also hear very little about the psychology of weight gain (Time Magazine did a series of articles on obesity and food in the June 11, 2007 issue). There are real reasons why people "let themselves go", and this applies to the thin as well as to the heavy. Addictive behavior knows no such distinctions, and those who are trapped in cycles of addictive behavior come from all walks of life.
So are we focusing more on preventive medicine, sound nutrition for all, counseling, and support systems? No. Instead, I watch commercials promoting bariatric surgery that make it seem like a walk in the park. Instead, more and more young people crave unhealthy sweets and fats, and have access to them even in public school lunchrooms. We're in a national state of denial.
Did it occur to these scientists that perhaps they obtained their results because people who are heavy might spend time with people, like themselves, who make them feel more comfortable, who exercise similar habits? After all, most of tend to hang out with people who are like themselves.
Here's a thought - people who feel good about themselves, and want to stay healthy, tend to take care of themselves. Let's help them.
