The BIG FAT LIE –

Obesity is mainly genetic.

It’s simply not true. Yet even as recently as January this year, senior public health officials are still telling people that it’s their genes that are at fault – whilst also promoting expensive weight loss medication.

Pre 1980’s, Obesity was for the most part limited to those with a specific genetic disorder. 

In 2023, we know that there may be a genetic component to why some people gain, store and lose body fat more easily than one another, but we also know that environmental factors determine whether these genes are given an opportunity to express themselves – meaning the it’s the external factors like diet quality, physical activity, sleep, and stress that make all the difference.

The Problematic Message –

The effect of such mis-and-dis-information is near on criminal for 3 main reasons –

1. Incorrectly telling people that their genes are faulty sends the message that there’s nothing that can be done and that they are destined for a life of chronic ailments and discomfort, knocked confidence, mental health problems, fertility complications – it’s endless. Clearly this isn’t true and doesn’t need to be the case.

2. By falsely blaming genetics, there is little incentive to those in power to change the laws to require more stringent controls on the poisonous ingredients that are so prevalent in the food chain today. – A change that is imperative if we genuinely want to improve the health of society (and prevent the economic burden that an unhealthy society creates).

3. This denial of reality also leads to a justification to prescribe more pharmacological treatments and drugs to more and more people – products that come with significant side effects, and physiological and financial costs. All this serves further to perpetuate the problem.

What can I do?

Whilst it would be simple to write the same old response – Eat clean, Move more, Prioritise Sleep – that’s probably obvious to you by now. As is the guidance “Believe nothing – question everything”. 

So today’s main tip is more of a warning – READ THE LABELS.

It’s becoming increasingly common that even foods that we might expect to be fresh or raw with little to no processing are in fact being adulterated and contaminated. From fruits and vegetables to raw meat and fish, check that there are no coatings, sprays, oils, emulsifiers, preservatives, colourings or any other contaminants or impurities that you may inadvertently consume too frequently. It really is shocking how stringent one needs to be in order to stay healthy – something that could once be assumed, not so many years ago.