It may make sense, Haggi, but get ready for all the posts blaming the overweight for their lazy, immoral, slovenly ways while bragging about their own fitness/superiority. "Weightism" is one of the last sanctioned forms of discrimination.

"Weightism" is one of the last sanctioned forms of discrimination.

Gluttony was one of the 7 deadly sins. Historically overweight people were seen as people consuming more than their share of resources while many people were hungry. They were the only people wealthy enough to have lots of food to eat and not required to have physical jobs.

Not saying its right, but this is why this discrimination is rooted in most cultures.

Haggi - when I was 220 lbs and eating like a pig, and sitting on my ass all day at work, all night at a restaurant and all evening in front of the tv...just like you I said "this makes perfect sense"

Daisy - why shouldnt someone who's overweight take the blame? Seriously...i mean, take one second to really think about what you've written. Who ate all that food if it wasnt you? Who sat on their asses most of their lives, if it wasnt you?

Perhaps...other people dont have fitness/superiority issues...maybe you have a "its not my fault" issue?

I used to have that issue...though, I think all along I was smart enough to know it was my fault the entire time. Even if I pretended it wasnt.

Im not 160 lbs today because I kept thinking "this isnt my fault and I cant do anything about it". No, i'd still be obese if that was my attitude.

Weightism - Who's discriminating against you? Simply because people like myself are being honest about our own role in our excessive weight...and then also being honest about what it takes to shed the weight and keep it off, doesnt mean anyones discriminating against you. Reality is what it is...I never said it was easy, I never said that changing how much I consume in a day was easy...it definitely wasnt. I still crave pop like there's no tomorrow...I still love candy, I still have the occasional run to taco bell.

The difference...I dont drink a 2 liter in one day. I dont eat a 3000 calories worth of taco bell in one sitting.

Wakehead - I am saying it's right. Currently there have been articles talking about us hitting 7 billion people, and most of the people commenting were americans talking about how there's not enough resources or food to feed 7 billion people. Well, no...not if everyone ate like a typical american. Ya know, the ones hoarding all the food - getting massively obese...while brown kids in africa and elsewhere are dying of starvation.

It seems to me, not much has changed since the beginning of time.

It's embarrassing in so many ways - our gluttony, our obesity...while kids all over the world would be grateful for a cup of rice...we're shoving fistfuls of food down our throats acting like it's our right to be as obese as we want to be...we're the rich ones remember? we're the kings of the world...we get to do whatever the bleep we want...who cares if they die? I got mine...screw them.

Now thats an America to be proud of.

Historically overweight people were seen as people consuming more than their share of resources while many people were hungry.

Not necessarily true, Wakehead. Look at paintings by the Old Masters. Women with a few extra pounds were considered attractive because the extra weight was associated with wealth - enough wealth to afford the extra food.

Jessica -- we're glad you've managed to "fix" your problem. But you sound like an ex-smoker. You know, the one's who condemn???

Instead of tearing down others, why don't you share what worked for you? But remember, not EVERYTHING works for EVERYONE and being self-righteous helps NO ONE!

Weightism? Really?

That's one thing you really can change. When I was a kid growing up in the 80's, there were hardly any fat kids in school. I'm talking about 1 or 2 per school. Now look at it.

People did not evolve different genes in 30 years, so it's not a genetic issue. It's the person themself eating too much.

The POINT of the article is that the human body wants to REGAIN the weight lost, which is at least part of the reason why so many dieters regain the weight. OF COURSE it makes sense, and acknowledging the biological issues (and therefore being able to treat them) is NOT the same as saying "it's not my fault." Yes, of course there will be those who say that, who will use this information as an excuse, just like an alcoholic who will use the "it's a disease" as an excuse. But for those who WANT to keep the weight off, it's extra information that can HELP them keep the weight off.

I lost 20 lbs last year, only to regain 5-6 lbs, and it's FRUSTRATING! And even now, I'm fighting the urge to go get a blueberry muffin. YES, I'm HUNGRY - it's cold and damp outside, which doesn't help. The knowledge explains why I feel this way, but it's still up to me to eat the yogurt I brought to work instead of the muffin.

And another thing to consider: in America there's more obesity among the POOR than the Wealthy - we've completely flipped that more traditional model of Overweight = Wealth. How'd THAT happen???

Beth "Jessica -- we're glad you've managed to "fix" your problem. But you sound like an ex-smoker. You know, the one's who condemn???"

Condemning what? If you want to eat as much as you want, and do as little as you want...and be as obese as you want...be that. I dont really care. Just stop pretending there's nothing you can do about it...or that it's "too hard" or for some people, nothing works. If you dont work, it wont work...thats about as logical as it gets.

"Instead of tearing down others, why don't you share what worked for you? But remember, not EVERYTHING works for EVERYONE and being self-righteous helps NO ONE!"

I'm not tearing anyone down. I am being honest. I ate like a pig, I was obese...I stopped eating like a pig, started moving around a bit more...and like magic, over the course of several years, the weight kept coming off.

In 2003 I was approx 220 lbs (im 5'5)...and through about end of 2008, my weight got as low as 165 and ballooned back up to 190. I would go on "diets" and get down in weight, but when the diet ended...I would go back to my old eating habits and my old exercise habits and "like magic" the weight would come back.

Early 2009 I cut the excuses, quit pretending there were "other reasons" why I couldnt keep my weight down and finally accepted that I owned my results. No more saying "the jillian 30 day shred didnt work"...simply because I quit after day 5 because im lazy and didnt like to work so hard.

I admit it, I am lazy...I have been most of my life...pretending otherwise is counterproductive.

But, the reality is...is that I have a partner with Multiple Sclerosis (has had it for 10 years, we've been together for 12)...and slowly but surely her health is going to deteriorate...eventually she may lose her eye sight, or motor functions and cant walk...she will be reliant upon me to do the most basic things, and some very challenging things...and the reality that I might not be in good physical shape or health, to take care of her felt like the HEIGHT OF SELFISHNESS.

I do enjoy food, junk food, fast food...I love pop, I love candy...and I hate exercising.

But, this slow suicide is pretty selfish...and im just done with it.

So what have I done?

Portion control...I dont eat 4 taco's anymore...2 is just fine.

I dont drink a 2 liter of pop in one day...most days I dont even drink a 20oz.

I do a lot more physical activity - I still dont exercise much in the traditional sense, beyond walking and dancing, but i do a lot more work around the house...yard work can be an amazing way to burn calories...mowing, shovelling, gardening, trimming, maintaining...it's work and your body appreciates it.

I step on the scale every morning and if I start to go up in weight, I dont freak out and go on some crash diet...I just take a step back and look at my behaviour, have I been sitting watching tv most nights instead of doing dishes, laundry or vacuuming? Have i been eating bigger portions than i should be? Did i finish that whole naked burrito from Qdoba...instead of eating 1/3rd like usual, and saving the rest for 2 lunches (I eat it with tortilla chips - no cheese, no sour cream).

It's a bunch of tiny choices that add up in to results...every day, all day we get a bunch of choices...and whether your opt to take the steps, or elevator...whether you drink water all day, or coffee...

these all add up.

"not EVERYTHING works for EVERYONE"

I would change that to "not everyone works for everything"...and there's your real answer.

Jessica, you're right on target.

It is absolutely a mind-set when choosing to eat AND exercise.

ALL of the women in my family are seriously obese and they are completely miserable and self-deluded as to why. They tell me that I'm vain for taking care of myself yet God forbid if I were to express my concern about their health due to their weight. (there would be some serious gnashing of teeth and much hate speech)

Although I've never been discriminatory concerning another person being overweight, I have definitely been discriminated against concerning my weight.

I keep saying this, but no one is listening. In America, the poor are not the only ones who suffer from hunger. Hunger is a persistent problem among all classes of society, and being able to afford lots of food sometimes just makes hunger all that much harder for dieters to bear.

Condemning what? If you want to eat as much as you want, and do as little as you want...and be as obese as you want...be that. I dont really care. Just stop pretending there's nothing you can do about it...or that it's "too hard" or for some people, nothing works. If you dont work, it wont work...thats about as logical as it gets.

You remind me of the ex-smoker who tears down all other smokers who are either trying to quit, or don't want to. Often the "exes" are the most judgmental as is obvious by your sentence below.

I would change that to "not everyone works for everything"...and there's your real answer.

I never said NOTHING works, I said not everything does. This study, like others, that have so many different outcomes do for a reason ... we are all different!

In my case, food has little to do with it. I eat healthy, but only extreme exercise takes off weight. And as one gets older, that gets more and more difficult.

Weight loss and maintenance is often dependent upon body chemistry and programs need to be tailored that way. Only then will most people be successful.

However, since you've apparently succeeded, and congrats for that, you have now turned judgmental to those still struggling. Yes, a lot is mental, but not all. Until BOTH aspects are addressed, for many all the dieting and exercise won't totally do the job.

Beth,

I am an "ex-smoker", and I do not judge smokers because I know what it takes to quit. But I have to totally agree with Jessica. I know people that are overweight because of illness, but I also know tons more "obese" people that are "healthy" but got that way by stuffing junkfood down their throats, not exercising, sitting on their a$$ all day and blaming others. It is hard to keep weight off as you get older but you have to make an efford yourself to eat right and exercise.

Jessica,

I would like to point out the fact that hormones have A LOT to do with your weight and thyroid. If your hormones are out of whack, then your thyroid will most likely be out of whack. It saddens me to hear the strong language when you talk about how if your not lazy and you do the work the weight will come off. Well i would like for you to hear a little story:

I grew up playing sports, doing ballet, constantly outside, ALWAYS going and moving. I still am this way, I take the stairs at work, i walk all over my college campus, generally carrying a good amount of weight, I love excercising!! But I digress. Growing up no one could understand how i was gaining weight, i was never home! I took around 3 dance classes a year(thats at least 3 times a week), played soccer, basketball, ect. I could never lose the weight either, i was stuck, our family would diet, but nothing would work for me. Now i have to take 2 dif meds and that does nothing except keep me from getting diabetes.

I think its great that you were successful in losing weight, and honestly it makes me a lil jealous. I wish it were as easy for me. If you want to know currently what i do, I go to school where i am walking all the time, go to work where i do the same, and i babysit, where i play and run around. I still love dancing, going out with friends!! Its nothing to spend the day walking around town doing stuff, I love being active. So before you call all overweight ppl lazy, you should consider that some people actually do have problems.

BTW, i am not saying this to make an excuse, like i said i love excercising, it just kinda hurts when people say, well dont be lazy and do what i did. I'm sorry but i cant. So the next time you judge someone ask your self if maybe they have something wrong with them, maybe its not always an excuse, maybe they really are trying and everything they have tried so far hasnt worked. Try not to judge as harshly!!!

In my experience, eating "right" has been much more important than exercising when it comes to weight. While I've exercised regularly over the past 3 decades, both in the weight room and doing cardio, I've had periods where I don't exercise due to work or just getting lazy or burned out and not making the time. If it goes on too long I actually lose weight, since I lose muscle.

My eating habits aren't what most people would want to do though; vegan, no sugar, no soft drinks, etc. But once you do get used to eating this way, it's really hard to go back to a traditional American diet. At least for me. I remember loving Big Macs (among other traditional fast food) when I was younger, but can't imagine eating one now.

I am going to have to disagree with you. Biochemical and physiological changes occur in individuals who lose weight. This phenomena has been studied extensively. In 1989, a study by Elliot et al. showed a 22% decrease in basal metabolic rate (BMR) at the onset of diet that was sustained following cessation of the diet. At an average BMR of 1800 kcal, that would result in a reduction to 1400 kcal/day. The increase in mucsle mass would have to be significant to offset this change. The average increase in kcal burned/lb of lean muscle is 35-50 in individuals who are not dieting. There is little reason to think that this average would not decrease somewhat in parallel with other reductions in BMR following weight loss. I would suggest people spend less time getting there advice from magazine articles written by scientifically uneducated people and more time listening to the experts in the field of study. I also think, as tempting as it may be, to avoid embracing anecdotal data from one's own experiences to draw conclusions. There is a reason we use statistics in science to elucidate statistical and clinical significance in our findings.

There is a reason we use statistics in science to elucidate statistical and clinical significance in our findings

You can find "statistics" to back up pretty much anything you want.

The reality is, weight loss -- and the maintenance of weight loss -- is such a complex issue, that what is effective is different for almost everyone

HopeinAnguish - so please tell us, from which university did you receive your medical degree? I'll believe a study performed by trained medical experts before I believe some joker on the Internet.

It may come as a surprise to some that the majority of research done using "statistics" in peer reviewed journals is scrutinized by multiple reviewers prior to publication. In general, the reviewers are experts in the field of study and have dissenting opinions with the author of the paper. The popular use of statisitics for polls and other such nonsense is not subject to equal scrutiny. I think to conflate the two is to be purposefully disingenious. Much as people use "theory" incorrectly, it is all to easy to dismiss statistics as a flawed science. I would suggest people look at the advancement of society over the past 100 years, due to science and "statistics", as a defacto refutation of such dismissive arguments.

lol UMGator. ya - these same experts that kill people by the scores with chemo, poison, and radiation. Ya - they know exactly what they're talking about when it comes to health. I'll take my chances with self-study, research, and finding out what works for me, thank you very much. If I break a leg, I may choose to visit a doctor to set the bone - they tend to do that pretty well. When it comes to nutrition and health, they have a very poor scorecard overall. Most doctors don't even really have extensive, formal nutrition experience, even the 'nutritionists'. Studying the mechanics isn't enough, and finding 1 or two people that actually have hormonal issues preventing weight loss does not invalidate the calories in/calories out plus a good diet. Heck, I'd be surprised if more than 1% of folks on this board actually knew what a good meal is. We have been conditioned by the grocery store selections, restaurant selections, and cultural habits of the last 50 years on what we eat and how we eat. That is the root cause of most of our 'obesity'. I formally and categorically reject the premise that it's mainly due to hormones that we're a nation (world?) of fatties. Switch to a plant based diet, eat organic, exercise daily. Guess what? 99% of people are going to be thinner, happier, healthier, and not hold a 'poor me, It's my hormones' attitude. Those that continue to eat garbage (literally) and non-food, will suffer low energy, health issues, take pills peddled by the so-called 'experts with the degree', who are trained to be shills for the corporations and special interests, and folks will remain fat, sick, and play the blame game on things like hormones. This whole article and thread makes me wonder if we have any intelligence left. Trust doctors at your peril. They are all just mini corporations and shills for big pharma.

So why not set your broken leg yourself? You're obviously better qualified than anyone who went to school and post medical school training for 12-15 years.

And if you get cancer, let's see how well your "organic diet" works for curing that.

Hey hopeinanguish. Much about overweight has been studied in Europe and there is much more to it than the food you eat. In many people it is a serious hormone imbalance that has nothing to do with too little exercise and being glutinous with out of control eating. Please get educated so you can be fair instead of just critical and judgemental sounding.

One only has to travel to Europe to see the difference. Yes, they are getting bigger over there too, but that is mainly due to the "import" of american fast food. In Europe people consider you fat when you're 20 pounds overweight. The mentality is different. People COOK their own food! They walk, ride bicyles and mow their own lawn. Americans are lazy, they rather go out and eat than brownbag it and/or cook. Look at the restaurants on the weekends: long lines and waiting lists. Another european thing: they don't blame anybody but themselves. And they eat well, just not the same portion size as americans.

Weight loss isn't easy for everyone.

wryview - are you expecting everything in life to be easy?

Just because it's not "easy" does it mean you arent capable of doing it?

Do you only do things that are easy? It might explain a lot.

Jessica - try reading the post wryview was replying too before you go attacking them. The poster that they are replying to said that Weight loss is easy. Wryview isn't whining about it not being easy.

It's o.k. I understand the air is thinner on top of your superior soap box.

Research into the hormones that mediate the effects of food consumption and energy expenditure have shown a complex interplay between greater than 10 hormones. Individual reponse to these hormone effects vary, much in the same way individuals reponsd to excitatory stimuli (e.g. adrenaline junkies vs. everyone else). This variance is due to an enormous number of possible differences in protein expression, ligand binding, and downstream response due to genetic variance. There is very little to be gained from denegrating others who respond differently to physiolgic stimuli than you. The reason this is studied extensively is because of the large number of co-morbidities associate with excess adiposity. Understanding how this works and what can be done to improve weightloss outcomes at an individual level is important. Calling people lazy is sophmoric and does not improve outcomes.

No I read it, and comprehended it...and asked a simple question.

for some people, it is easy...for others it is not.

Simply because it's not, does that mean it cant be done...or not worth doing?

Or even a reason to throw up ones arms and say i cant?

A simple question...dont get so riled up.

I am fat. I guess the new term is obease. I know why, I eat too much and I do not exercise enough. But I try everyday to eat less, control my portions, and move a little more. The weight is coming off a little at a time...so I may live to see myself smaller. My problem is a lot of loose skin that flaps around. I wish my loss in pounds would include that skin shrinking up. Facts indicate I should have started loosing when I was a lot younger and my skin a lot more adjustable. But the bottom line for me is to eat less, move more, and just do it day after day. It works for me.

drushalli - please don't tell me that you take the word of Suzanne Summers over the experts. She is nothing more than a Hollywood has-been who thought she was so important to the TV show that made her famous that they would cave to all of her demands. Surprise, Suzanne! They didn't, much like Charlie Sheen's experience. Since that time, she has been willing to say or do anything for a buck.

Ya gotta admit though, she looks great for a woman in her 60s. Also, it's Somers, not Sommers or Summers.

I was thinking the same thing - what legit scientist would have ran a study where people were limited to 550 calories a day? If they had added excerise in, these participants might have died!

Has anyone EVER watched the biggest loser? They are losing massive amounts of weight really quickly, but they are doing it PRIMARILY through exercise, and their caloric levels are higher than what someone just dieting alone would eat, because they have to have something to burn...when they drop their calories lower, hoping to lose more weight, it backfires...it stalls their weight loss.

This study was junk science, as you mention...it was ran by someone standing to profit of off fat peoples ignorance and laziness...what a shame.

Thanks for calling it out!

I know two people who tried this exact diet. They lost weight (without exercise), but felt that the discipline required to starve themselves consistently was more difficult to achieve than the discipline required to exercise and eat sensibly...

anyway... eating well with portion control and exercising regularly are the best way to lose weight in a healthy manner .... body chemistry changes when you go from heavy to healthy... of course each person is different but for the most part... that's the recipe ..... you can blame hormones but will power is the real key... eat healthy and stay active..

Of course as you age you need more and more activity and less and less food to maintain the same weight. Probably should equal out when you die because all you have been doing is excercising 24 hours a day with no food intake. Really need to check on the effects of aging on the body.

Not certain how healthy you would be if you were active enough to maintain your weight when you are old. Good luck on the project and report back when those that maintain eating less and excercising reach 70. Be sure to mention how many joints have been replaced. ::))

Congrats on your weight loss! And I agree that the study was flawed. They need to eat more and add in some exercise and then maybe I'll listen to the results.

"it's not all that simple. If it were, everyone would be thin and there wouldn't be any weight problems at all."

I know right! I kept snapping my fingers, but the damn weight wouldnt come off. So then I wiggled my nose, ya know, like Samantha on Bewitched...still nothing happened. So then I went to that one store, ya know with the "easy button" in the commericials...hit it a few times, and still obese. It was then that I realized, this sure isnt easy...

PS Everyone is different - some people are extremely lazy, and if it aint easy they aint doing it...others, like myself...put forth effort, push through the challenges and come out the other side thinking - wow, was I ever pathetic before making all those excuses and pretending like...well, if it were easy id lose the weight.

No you wouldnt...at least be that honest, even if someone zapped the pounds off your tomorrow, you'd keep eating the same way...and keep the same exercise habits (or lack thereof) and you'd eventually become just what you are today...easy peasy.

Now THAT'S the "magic diet" that's phony, the ones that say "Eat all you want and still lose weight." It's like Alice in Wonderland, "drink me" and lose weight, just like magic. No, weight loss isn't easy, because our bodies WANT the higher calorie stuff, and WANTS to hang onto the weight, just in case a famine comes along. Sure, Optifast works because you don't get to eat - then when you start eating again, you gain back the weight. This is no big surprise, just ask Kirstie Alley.

There, ate a Fiber bar instead of the muffin I was craving. Unfortunately, I bought Halloween cookies for the student workers - now how long before I crumble and eat one? No, changing habits is definitely NOT EASY!!!:(

Obviously, many aren't happy with themselves, so they try to make everyone else unhappy. That's sad. Oh well, cheer up, someone might crap on their head tomorrow and give them another reason to whine. Would you like some cheese with that? Control freaks never cease to amaze me.

Wow - what sweeping generalizations. Not everyone who is overweight eats 12 meals per day or 100,000 calories per day or 3 extra large pizzas for breakfast. I'm overweight & eat no junk food at all & eat less than 1500 calories per day. The weight won't budge.

Do you actually know someone who does this or are you just proving that your hormones contribute to your stupidity? wryview--you don't have to justify yourself to stone--#1 he won't believe you, #2 he won't care and #3 if he indeed knows someone like this they most likely aren't heavy. This whole blog is deplorable--such a collection of uneducated, media fed, insensitive, neanderthal hogwash.

I also did the Hcg diet @ 500 cal. a day with the drops. I lost 19 lb. in 35 days and am maintaining. I am getting ready to do a second round. It seems to "reset" you completely for the better. It's great for the short term with low carb breaks in between.

Meal replacement and veggies sound hard to keep up with for a long period of time. I could see them rebounding pretty quickly.

Also consider that humans at one time were hunter-gatherers. Just the act of hunting down large game required a lot of energy. Typically humans hunted in large coordinated groups using persistence running, encirclement and corralling to force animals to the point of exhaustion where they were easy pickings.

Exactly. You don't have to track a pint of Chunky Monkey across the African Serengeti these days. You also don't have to worry about losing half your body's water and fat reserves from dysentery every time you drink from the river.

It's not weird when you look at the environment we evolved in. We lived in a constantly malnourished state for the vast majority of our time as a species, and no doubt our species' ancestors lived in a similar state for millions of years prior to that. Wo we evolved bodies that are very good at finding and extracting energy, because it was originally very hard to come by. It's only very recently that our species has overcome that lack of food, so we still have the DNA urges to eat as much high-calorie foods as possible.

The same principle goes toward our sexual behavior. When we first evolved into this current genetic form, infant death rates were atrocious, and so we overcame that by being able to mate year-round, with only physiological or psychological triggers instead of seasonal ones. However, this too changed as we took control of our environment, so now we have overpopulation.

You just have to realize that we didn't evolve to live in a food-rich and medically-sound environment; that came after. We're still living on savannah-river-dwelling genetic code, even though we've surpassed living in that resource-restricted environment.

Hey.. "A.T." I'm not picking on you, but the study was "designed" to analyze weight regain. I GUARANTEE a "scientist" involved with Nestle, that used a Nestle product (Optifast- even the name denotes crash dieting) for the study, was NOT trying to prove crash diets don't work! I am sure Nestle will be using this "data" in some sort of marketing. (Participants lost weight using the product, and gained weight when they stopped- THEY will "spin.") But this really wasn't the focus of my comment. I am just stating you cannot draw ANY conclusions from this "study" because the ENTIRE thing was flawed!

I'm actually a professional in this industry, but weight loss is too complex an issue to address in the "comments." I just urge everyone to use some common sense- which this "study" is completely lacking!

"Not everyone wants to count calories and fat content for years upon years"

but everyone wants to be obese?

I guess we all get choices and some just make different choices than others.

Congrats on losing the weight and keeping it off, but before you get too self-righteous, remember what works for one, probably won't work for another.