@maverick1 wrote:
Now, let's address that empathy you're stuck on...
I have empathy. I am empathetic towards obese people who clearly don't understand how their lack of personal responsibility / accountability impacts their BMI. It's sad that such a lack of understanding and intelligence impacts their food choices, nutritional intake and excessive hand to mouth motions from boredom.
I'm also intelligent enough to understand that the US obesity epidemic didn't occur in direct causation from heredity in just a few decades.
You’re assuming obesity is a sign of stupidity or laziness. But that’s actually not supported by science. If it were just about “choices,” we wouldn’t have an obesity epidemic affecting every income level, age, and even people who exercise regularly.
The truth is, it’s not an individual failure. It’s a societal one and dismissing people as “unintelligent” only makes the problem worse by adding shame instead of solutions.
There are also a ton of other medical reasons why people cannot lose weight (aside from being stupid or lazy)
1. Lipedema (my guess is you never heard of this)
A chronic fat disorder (mostly affecting women) that causes painful, disproportionate fat buildup in the legs, hips, arms, and sometimes the abdomen.
The fat is resistant to diet and exercise, meaning weight loss doesn’t reduce the affected areas.
Often misdiagnosed as simple obesity, leading to frustration and stigma. (such as yourself)
2. Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid slows metabolism, making weight loss difficult even with calorie restriction.
Symptoms: fatigue, cold intolerance, hair loss, depression, and weight gain.
3. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
A hormonal disorder that affects insulin and androgen levels, causing weight gain (especially around the abdomen) and resistance to weight loss.
Many with PCOS have insulin resistance, making fat storage easier and fat burning harder.
4. Cushing’s Syndrome
Caused by chronically high cortisol (stress hormone) levels, from the body itself or long-term steroid medication.
Leads to rapid central weight gain (abdomen, face, upper back) even with normal eating.
5. Insulin Resistance & Type 2 Diabetes
The body doesn’t respond well to insulin, causing blood sugar spikes and fat storage.
It’s a vicious cycle: insulin resistance leads to weight gain, which worsens insulin resistance.
6. Medications
Many prescription drugs can cause weight gain or make weight loss very difficult, including:
Antidepressants (SSRIs, tricyclics)
Antipsychotics
Beta-blockers (for blood pressure)
Insulin and some diabetes drugs
Corticosteroids
Hormonal contraceptives
7. Chronic Stress & Cortisol
Chronic stress triggers high cortisol, which increases appetite and fat storage (especially belly fat).
Even with good diet/exercise habits, elevated cortisol can blunt weight loss.
8. Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep disrupts hunger hormones (ghrelin/leptin), increasing appetite and cravings for high-calorie foods.
Just 4–5 hours of sleep per night can raise obesity risk by up to 70% in long-term studies.
9. Depression, Anxiety, and Emotional Eating
These can change how the brain regulates appetite and metabolism.
Even if someone is exercising, their body’s stress chemistry can work against them.
10. Ultra-Processed Food Environment
Processed foods hijack hunger signals through a combination of sugar, salt, and fat designed to make overeating almost automatic.
Even people tracking calories can struggle because these foods alter hormones and gut bacteria linked to appetite regulation.
11. Early Childhood or Generational Factors
Early malnutrition, trauma, or exposure to certain chemicals (like BPA) can permanently alter metabolism.
“Epigenetic” effects mean your body may store fat more efficiently due to family or environmental history.
12. Set Point Theory
The body tends to defend a certain weight lowering metabolism and increasing hunger when weight drops.
This explains why dieters often regain weight despite consistent effort: the body literally fights back.
Real-World Examples of people who struggle:
A woman with PCOS who eats a balanced 1,500-calorie diet and exercises 5 days a week, but loses only 2 pounds over months.
A man taking antidepressants who gains 20 lbs even though his habits haven’t changed.
A person with lipedema whose upper body slims down with diet, but whose legs remain disproportionately large and painful.
A shift worker who eats healthily but gains weight due to sleep disruption and cortisol cycles.
Yes, I work in healthcare and I worked for a bariatric clinic for 10 years. There is much more to it than being stupid and lazy. So why don't you take a seat now and read this a few times and let it sink in.