The Littest Winning Loser

NBC will be broadcasting the Biggest Loser to highlight their weight loss show and we're always reminded of Oprah's big reveal show from Kirstie Alley to her own struggles. While such shows do demonstrate the power of individual extraordinary effort they also tend to suggest that if you don't make such efforts you're some kind of a less than person. We've held such beliefs about ourselves as well as pointed fingers at others. It is with this in mind that we point to the both the new and older research that offers another take on the issue of the overweight.

Considerable attention is currently being paid to the secular changes in food intake and physical activity that underlie the increase in the prevalence of obesity that is apparent in many societies. While this is laudable it would be unwise to view these environmental factors in isolation from the biological factors that normally control body weight and composition and the compelling evidence that inter-individual differences in susceptibility to obesity have strong genetic determinants. - Philosophical Transactions B

It's not just talk show hosts with "motional and medical issues." It's all of us with life's day to day. It's not that we can't loss weight if we "really really try." It's we can't keep it off even after really really trying.

Diets don't work because dieting is not a long-term solution. If you diet to lose weight, you'll gain the weight back once you get off the diet. Remember, you behave your way to success. There are no quick fixes. Even gastric bypass surgery can only provide short-term results if your behavior and your thinking don't change. - Dr. Phil

Where we disagree is that we don't choose to be overweight! We do agree that it appears that the leading causes of death are avoidable what we disagree with is that the victim isn't the sole solution to the problem. It isn't just a point of disagreement it's a matter of life and death.

A third of heart disease deaths are caused simply by being overweight, researchers have found. The stark conclusion means about 67,000 deaths a year in Britain could have a direct link to our expanding waistlines. It also suggests obesity could be a bigger risk factor for cardiovascular disease than previously thought. - The Daily Mail

Yes, the study is a UK one but this just points to the fact that the issue is one of a developed nation and not just a fat and lazy one. This current version highlights the accuracy of the earlier research. We're also not saying that "it's not your fault that you're getting fat" as the website and book alleges. We're saying it's not just your fault that you're getting fat! It's a little bit our fault that we're "with child." It's not totally our fault!