Obesity not caused by lack of willpower ?

[original PM]

It would be nice if it was taught in school.

Maybe the lesson on debt could be replaced with "never get into debt" and the time spent on budgeting instead.....

But the problem is peer pressure and consumer pressure means you need stuff now - so you get it on credit rather than doing what we did when we were younger which was go without until you could afford it.

But telling that to your kids now will probably get you locked up for child abuse.

[BrilloPad]

But the problem is peer pressure and consumer pressure means you need stuff now

Indeed. Will no-one think about climate change?

[KinooOrKinog]

The thinking that obesity is only ever caused by a lack of willpower is overly simplistic. Like anything, it’s far more nuanced.

It's definitely not the only reason but it's certainly a factor. Saying that obesity isn't a choice is utterly ridiculous and frankly dangerous. It's just giving the fatties another get out. Another reason to blame someone else.

[Old Greg]

Utter tulip. If obesity isn't a choice, does that mean being a smoker isn't a choice either? What happens when an obese person loses weight? Is that not their choice?

Obesity is caused (IMO) by a combination of things
Lack of willpower
Laziness, e.g. eating takeaways is far easier than cooking
Lack of education, people don't know about nutrition or how to cook
Of course there can be more complex psychological reasons why the overeat in the first place too.

Ultimately everything comes down to choice, it's just some are more difficult to make than others.

Obesity needs to be seen both in terms of individual choices and in terms of population health. Changing diets and lifestyles are important factors. Your explanation does not explain why lots of people have started making poor choices in terms of diet and lifestyle factors leading to obesity.

[KinooOrKinog]

Obesity needs to be seen both in terms of individual choices and in terms of population health. Changing diets and lifestyles are important factors. Your explanation does not explain why lots of people have started making poor choices in terms of diet and lifestyle factors leading to obesity.

Because junk food is much more available than it was 40 years ago, there's no effort involved in making it and it tastes nice. That's why. But people still have a choice. That's the point I'm trying to make. The article says obesity isn't a choice. Unless you're being force fed through a tube, everyone has the choice what they eat. Regardless of other factors like finances, there's still a choice. It's just a more difficult one.

[NotAllThere]

I agree it does. I've been poor. But the article isn't about poor people. It's saying being obese isn't a choice & isn't down to lack of willpower.

Consider people who live in a place with no or limited cooking and food storage facilities. You know, families in B&Bs and the like.

[BrilloPad]

Consider people who live in a place with no or limited cooking and food storage facilities. You know, families in B&Bs and the like.

Or worse. A B&B not near an aldi....

[KinooOrKinog]

Consider people who live in a place with no or limited cooking and food storage facilities. You know, families in B&Bs and the like.

Oh ffs. No. That's a small percentage of people.
This is a prime example of how it doesn't matter what anyone says or how many solutions or suggestions are offered, these people will always come up with a reason why it's not their fault they're fat.

[WTFH]

But the problem is peer pressure and consumer pressure means you need stuff now - so you get it on credit rather than doing what we did when we were younger which was go without until you could afford it.

But telling that to your kids now will probably get you locked up for child abuse.

The problem is poor parenting.

Parents wimp out of bringing children up by throwing money at them, and just giving them what they want. Then 30 years later when those children have children, they get brought up the same way, and the old folk jump up and down blaming the kids because the old folk failed as parents.

It’s due to lack of responsibility from parents, who want to push everything on to blaming someone/something else.

[Old Greg]

Because junk food is much more available than it was 40 years ago, there's no effort involved in making it and it tastes nice. That's why. But people still have a choice. That's the point I'm trying to make. The article says obesity isn't a choice. Unless you're being force fed through a tube, everyone has the choice what they eat. Regardless of other factors like finances, there's still a choice. It's just a more difficult one.

Yes people do have choice, as I said. But they are now making choices within a different context. If you want to blame people, put it all down to choice. If you want to change things, address that different context while also recognising that people have choices and individual responsibility.