Review

There are a lot aspects related to obesity that have not been covered. The claim that obesity has nothing to do with modern sedentary lifestyles and is entirely down to eating too much seems a naive view of obesity. It is definitely one of the factors in obesity, but it is not an entire reason for an obesity epidemic. The writer does not consider a genetic component to the risk for obesity, or people with a hormonal disorder, leading to excessive fat accumulation. Also lifestyle and environmental changes ove rthe past 25 years are not given any thougt. In particular, the unlimited supply of convenient, highly calorific foods together with a sedentary lifestyle. Interestingly, little explanation is given about why people eat too much now then they did 25 years go. To say that “weight is not realistically going to benefit from exercise" and that "dieting…is a more realistic approach,” in my opinion this does not provide any insightful information about obesity, but rather a damaging dieting advice is given despite a wealth of evidence that it is not always good for you. To those who simply say stop eating so much, they have little insight and are unhelpful to those who struggle throughout their lives with weight problems. I don’t think it was a very effective article. I think that it could have been written in a way that does not seem like an attack on obese people suggesting that obesity is a lifestyle choice that people just choose to eat and grow fat. To say that the obesity crisis has nothing to do with modern sedentary lifestyle is brushing aside lifestyle and environmental changes, which needs to be given a lot more consideration. It would have been more effective if the writer offered insight into why people might be eating a lot more now than 25 years ago. I would have been more interested if there was more research into weight gain and control and if the writer offered helpful calorie reduction advice. The data is somewhat misleading; for instance comparing modern weights to the weights in 1980’s, when their diets were different. The data presented seems pointless and does not really allow the reader to make any judgements about why more people are obese now. The readers need to understand why obesity levels have increased, even though there has been no actual change in our levels of physical activity. It is all too simple just to say that it is because people eat too much. It would have been more helpful to have information about our physical activities 25 years ago compared to now, as types of jobs have changed as well as transport accessibility. I am a bit perplexed by the idea that weight is not realistically going to benefit from exercise when the general health advice is always that exercise is the best way to loose weight. Diet and exercise together are known to be the best way to combat weight problems. Also the fact that we should only “promote exercise for health reasons,” but surely when you exercise you lose weight and that benefits your health anyway' I am disappointed that this is based on a very limited approach. I know that there is a direct link between weight and food, but the link is not a simple equation and there is far more to obesity than eating too much. Public health concern needs to be dealt with in a more sensitive manner and not like prejudice. Issues relating to health risks need to be covered more fully and informatively. If people are indeed eating too much then explain why and offer advice. It would have been more interesting if the writer looked at the changes in lifestyle. Do we really have the same level of physical activity as we did 25 years ago, or do people have a more active lifestyle nowadays' He could have argued that maybe people are not as active now due to transport and technology and that the types of jobs now maybe less strenuous. On the face of it, this will cause more harm than any good it can do, and by making obese people think that exercise is not as important in trying to lose weight will only increase their weight gain and health problems!