Ever felt like no matter how hard you try, shedding those extra pounds just won't happen? It's a frustrating battle that leaves many wondering why willpower alone isn't cutting it. But here's where it gets controversial: what if obesity isn't just a personal failing, but a complex mix of biology, environment, and societal factors pushing against us?
The myth of willpower – and why some people struggle to lose weight more than others
Just published
Nick Triggle, Health Correspondent
BBC
'Overweight folks simply lack discipline.' 'It's all about taking charge of your choices.' 'Easier said than done – just consume fewer calories.'
These were among the nearly 2,000 responses from readers under a piece I penned last year on weight-loss medications (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cre5xp83394o).
The notion that obesity boils down purely to willpower resonates widely – even among certain healthcare providers.
A survey across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, featured in The Lancet, revealed that 80% of participants believed obesity could be fully averted through lifestyle adjustments.
Yet Bini Suresh, a nutritionist with two decades of experience aiding those with excess weight, finds this viewpoint utterly exasperating.
To her, it's merely scratching the surface.
'I encounter countless clients who are incredibly driven, well-informed, and persistently striving, yet they continue to grapple with their weight.'
'Concepts like 'willpower' and 'self-control' miss the mark entirely,' echoes Dr. Kim Boyd, medical lead at WeightWatchers. 'For years, individuals have been advised to cut calories and ramp up activity to shed pounds... [However] obesity encompasses far greater intricacies.'
She and fellow specialists I've consulted propose that obesity stems from numerous influences, many still not fully deciphered: crucially, it's an uneven playing field.
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Authorities are resorting to rules to combat this.
Their latest initiative – prohibiting junk food commercials on TV before 9 PM and outright banning them online – kicks in today.
Still, numerous observers argue this approach will only partially address the UK's surging obesity epidemic, impacting over a quarter of adults.
A clash with our own biology
'Genetic factors profoundly shape the weight individuals accumulate, and these genes play a role for everyone,' explains Prof. Sadaf Farooqi, an endocrinologist specializing in severe obesity and hormonal issues.
She notes how specific genes impact brain mechanisms controlling appetite and satisfaction, responding to stomach signals to the brain.
'Alterations in these genes appear in those with obesity, leading to heightened hunger and reduced feelings of fullness post-meal.'
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Among these, the MC4R gene stands out as potentially the most significant we've identified – a variant prompting excessive eating and diminished satiety affects about 20% of people worldwide.
'Additional genes influence metabolic rate – the speed at which we expend energy,' Prof. Farooqi adds.
'This results in some storing more fat from identical food intake than others, or burning fewer calories during workouts.'
She estimates thousands of genes may influence weight, with detailed knowledge of just 30 to 40.
The science of weight rebound cycles
But that's not the whole tale.
Andrew Jenkinson, a weight-loss surgeon and writer of Why We Eat Too Much, describes how each person has a 'set weight' their brain perceives as ideal – healthy or not.
This is the set point weight concept.
'It's shaped by genetics, plus elements like food surroundings, stress levels, and sleep patterns.'
It positions body weight as a thermostat: the body strives to stay within that preferred zone. Dropping below triggers increased hunger and slower metabolism, much like a thermostat cranking up warmth in chilly conditions, per this theory.
Once established, altering it via sheer determination proves exceedingly tough, Dr. Jenkinson contends.
This also unravels the mystery of yo-yo dieting. 'Imagine weighing 20 stone, and your brain prefers that; if you drastically reduce calories and drop two stone, your body reacts as if famished,' he illustrates.
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'It ramps up fierce hunger, drives food-seeking urges, and slows metabolism,' he continues. 'These signals are intensely powerful, comparable to intense thirst – survival mechanisms...
'A raging appetite is nearly impossible to dismiss.'
Delving into the mechanics, Dr. Jenkinson highlights leptin, a fat-cell hormone. 'It communicates energy reserves to the hypothalamus, the brain region overseeing weight set points, signaling if fat levels are excessive.
'The hypothalamus then curbs appetite and boosts metabolism.'
Ideally, that's the process. But it often falters in modern Western diets, he says.
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Leptin competes with insulin's pathway. 'Elevated insulin weakens the leptin message, blinding the brain to stored fat amounts.'
The silver lining? The set point isn't immutable – gradual shifts occur with lasting lifestyle tweaks, better rest, lowered stress, and sustained wholesome routines.
Think of it as recalibrating a thermostat: patient, steady changes can guide the body toward a healthier equilibrium.
Obesity in the UK: A recipe for disaster
None of this explains the obesity uptick – our DNA and physiology remain unchanged.
Overweight or obese adults have climbed steadily, with the Health Foundation's 2025 data projecting 60% of UK adults affected (28% obese).
A key driver is the abundance and cheapness of low-quality, calorie-dense foods, especially ultra-processed ones. Factor in relentless marketing of fast food and sodas, ballooning portions, and scarce exercise chances (thanks to urban layouts or hectic schedules), and you've got a disastrous mix.
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'[Consequently] population-wide obesity has escalated, with genetically susceptible individuals gaining more,' notes Prof. Farooqi.
Public health pros call this the 'obesogenic environment,' a term coined in the 1990s linking rising rates to external pressures like food accessibility, promotions, and city planning.
Collectively, experts assert, these forge relentless prompts for overindulgence and lethargy, challenging even the most resolute to stay slim.
And this sheds light on why 'willpower' feels like a charged term.
The personal accountability conundrum
From her office at Newcastle City Council, public health chief Alice Wiseman spots eateries everywhere. 'Cafes, bakeries, takeouts abound. Commutes to school or work pass endless food spots.
'Visibility counts – frequenting takeouts boosts purchase odds. Your physiology reacts to surrounding temptations.'
In Gateshead, her other role, no new hot food takeouts have been approved since 2015.
Nationally, the fast-food sector thrives at over £23 billion annually.
UK ad spending favors high-fat, salty, sugary items like candies, drinks, burgers, and chips, per Ofcom's latest report.
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Yet Ms. Wiseman warns today's curbs on TV and online junk ads won't suffice.
A 2023 Food Foundation study found healthy foods cost over twice as much per calorie than unhealthy ones.
'In tight-budget households, nutritious eating is tough,' she explains.
'I acknowledge personal choices matter. But ponder: what's shifted? Our resolve hasn't plummeted.'
Ms. Suresh concurs. 'We're in a setup designed for excess.'
'Obesity isn't a character flaw. It's a multifaceted, ongoing ailment molded by genetics and a weight-promoting world. Willpower alone falls short, and portraying weight loss as pure discipline causes harm.'
However, viewpoints on 'willpower' diverge.
Prof. Keith Frayn, author of A Calorie is a Calorie, agrees many wouldn't be overweight without modern changes. 'It's the surroundings that have altered, not their determination or traits,' he states.
But he cautions: 'Downplaying 'willpower' risks accepting unhealthy weights too readily.'
He cites success stories like the US National Weight Control Registry's 10,000+ members who kept weight off long-term.
'They describe maintenance as 'tough,' often tougher than initial loss...
'Telling them willpower played no part would outrage them.'
'You can't enforce fitness through laws'
The wider discourse centers on governmental accountability.
Ms. Wiseman sees rules as vital, noting promotions like 'buy one, get one free' spur impulsive buys. Yet Gareth Lyon from Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank, opposes more laws.
'You can't mandate people into shape,' he argues.
'Bans and fees on enjoyed foods merely complicate, reduce joy, and hike costs amid rising living expenses.'
Christopher Snowdon from the Institute of Economic Affairs, another right-leaning group, views obesity as 'personal,' not societal.
'[It's] individual's decisions,' he insists. 'Ultimately, beyond personal action, not much can be done. It's odd to expect government slimming.
'I want impartial reviews of these policies; scrap if ineffective.'
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Willpower always factors in – the debate is its weight in the equation.
Ms. Suresh sees it as a thread in a larger fabric. Start with informing about other influences.
'This reframes from moralizing willpower to empathetic, evidence-based aid, boosting lasting wins.'
Boosting willpower is possible, suggests Dr. Eleanor Bryant, a Bradford University psychologist. 'It's not unchanging. Mood, fatigue, and hunger sway it...
'Mentality matters too. Flexible willpower sees shades of gray – one treat doesn't doom you to binge.
'In psych terms, rigid types spiral; flexible ones pause after one cookie.'
Clearly, flexibility triumphs.
But she notes: 'Food willpower tests harder than other life domains.'
Ms. Suresh agrees, yet believes grasping its limits actually fortifies it.
'Once patients see struggles as biological, not laziness, and get structured nutrition, regular meals, mental tools, and achievable targets, their food bond transforms positively.'
But here's the part most people miss – does this mean individual effort is obsolete? Or is there a balance between biology and choice we overlook?
What do you think? Is obesity truly beyond personal control, or should we emphasize self-discipline more? Do government interventions help or hinder? Share your views in the comments – let's debate this!
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