Is Laziness the Cause of Obesity? "It's Problematic to Shift Responsibility Solely to the Individual"

World Scientists Gather at the Royal Society in the UK to Discuss Causes of Obesity
"Obesity Can Only Be Solved by Addressing It as a Social System Issue"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] World-renowned scholars researching obesity held a forum and stated, "Just as people suffering from malnutrition should not be blamed, those suffering from obesity should not be blamed either," adding that "there was consensus that obesity is not an individual's responsibility."

Obesity researchers such as Dr. Kevin D. Hall from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Professor Tokild IA Sørensen from the University of Copenhagen recently gathered at the Royal Society in London, UK, to discuss perspectives on obesity, according to a report by The New York Times (NYT) on the 21st (local time).

After debating the causes of obesity, they concluded that "there is no consensus on the causes leading to obesity," but announced that "there was agreement that obesity is not a personal responsibility." The scholars agreed that "obesity is not a personal failure." Since the 1980s, obesity rates worldwide have risen sharply, but it is difficult to view this as a result of genetic changes in humanity or a collective loss of willpower to control weight.

No experts claimed that laziness, binge eating, or sloth trigger obesity. Contrary to common sense, scientists acknowledged that humans do not have perfect control over their bodies. This opposes the social notion that "obesity is due to gluttony and laziness" or the widespread belief that "people can control their bodies through willpower."

Experts explained that obesity is much more complex and chronic in nature. They treated obesity similarly to the suffering caused by malnutrition. The scholars emphasized, "As long as obesity is treated as an issue of personal responsibility, the prevalence of obesity will not decrease."

Extremely processed foods and chemicals in processed foods are also problematic

Nutrition biologists pointed out that modern people consume a significant portion of their daily calories from 'ultra processed food.' Research shows that consuming ultra processed food leads to more weight gain compared to consuming natural foods with the same nutritional content.

Biochemists raised concerns about chemicals in processed foods. Additives in food and substances used in packaging act as toxins that disrupt metabolism and promote obesity. Physiologists noted that people who eat a lot of processed foods consume more calories and weigh more than those who eat organic meals. Endocrinologists also emphasized that excessive calorie intake increases fat.

Some experts argued that the problem is not eating too much but eating too little. An ecologist pointed out that in animals, when food is scarce, they store more fat even with insufficient calorie intake, explaining that humans also experience an obesity paradox caused by starvation.

Researchers unanimously emphasized that the causes of obesity are very complex. Obesity arises from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors, and there are over 1,000 genes and mutations that increase the risk of obesity. Participants at the forum agreed that obesity affects our health through more complex mechanisms than previously thought.

Meanwhile, researchers said, "Advice such as 'eat more vegetables' or 'exercise' to prevent obesity is like asking people to 'fly less' to combat global warming." They also mentioned a case where a doctor advised a patient who became excessively obese due to a brain tumor to reduce food intake and exercise for several months.

Experts point out that if obesity is simply dismissed as a personal issue, social stigma, discrimination, and misguided policies will continue. They advise that before shifting responsibility for obesity onto individuals, more attention should be paid to the environment and systems, such as restricting junk food marketing, removing vending machines from schools, and creating walkable environments, to reduce obesity rates worldwide.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.