When we see people who have put on excess weight, most people attribute it to a “ lack of willpower”. Is it so? Will just an effort to change diet or increase in exercise lead to sustained improvement?
Obesity is a complex medical condition influenced by various factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle. Various aspects of food consumption, appetite and satiety are linked to abnormalities in brain circuits and hormones. These include hormones like Ghrelin which stimulates hunger, and others like GLP-1, Cholecystokinin, Leptin and Amylin, which leads to satiety. People with obesity have energy expenditure different from that of people who are not obese.
So, despite our efforts to control the intake of high-calorie food and exercise, it is essential to address the various abnormal physiological changes that drive obesity. While making healthy choices is vital, it is not as simple as “trying harder” or having more willpower.