by VK Freelance

Created on: June 25, 2009   Last Updated: July 06, 2009

Haven't we noticed that the only people who claim weight loss is easy are those that have never been overweight? How easy is it for me to say "stop taking drugs?" I have no idea how hard it is to stop taking drugs; I don't do drugs, so I don't judge. Yet people who have never had to struggle with their weight tell people that have to just 'eat less' or 'exercise.'

Blame:

I am prepared to admit that there is an element that those who are obese don't help themselves, but genetics play a large role in how much we weigh and how easy or hard it is to put on weight. I have met countless people who simply can eat what they want, and never gain a pound. And there are people like me who can eat only half the amount and get fat; we can't judge everyone the same here, just as we can't judge everyone the same in other hereditary conditions. We can't say "Well, I don't have heart disease, I'm the same age, it must be their fault."

FTO gene:

Why should we judge obesity as purely self inflicted? Evidence has shown that genetics can affect many different factors: appetite, the rate at which you burn energy (metabolism) and how the body stores fat. There is even a gene that causes children to eat 15% more at mealtimes, it is called the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene.

Just as we accept that tendency towards alcohol and drug addiction is hereditary, so we must begin to accept the possibility that being overweight isn't as black and white as eating too much. Try and imagine how hard it would be to have to battle with your weight every day for your whole life, to have to diet without end and then to have thin people tell you to "just eat less," because "it's your fault and your fault only," we need to give these people support and help them to realize they can control their weight, but they will never be able to eat as much as thin people.

Help:

Doctors should focus on therapeutic and psychological reasons for weight gain, instead of telling them simply to "eat less and exercise more," there are some simple steps overweight people can take to begin to take charge of their weight, yet all the doctors say is they need to eat less!

Genetics is not the be all and end all of obesity, and there is much research still to be done, but likewise we must not ignore the role genetics plays in those who are plagued by weight problems, we must offer understanding and help and stop assuming that it is entirely self afflicted.

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