I think you make some good points Sean but unfortunately saying that obesity is a a lifestyle disease perpetuates the "blame the victim" mentality that is pervasive. Yes, obesity has traditionally been addressed through lifestyle changes, as were many diseases before scientifically validated medications were available. Obesity is a genetic disorder, that like many others (depression, alzheimer's, cancer), can be affected by lifestyle changes. For many years, using medication to treat mental health had a stigma as well. We now now that medication in combination with other things including lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can be very effective (for both depression AND obesity).
Thank you for taking a moment to provide feedback. The article centers around a set of topics that seem to be getting deeper and more complicated each year, all while there is so much at stake. My hope was to motivate conversations like this. If you're interested, I'd love to chat some time so I can understand your perspective further.
Insightful! I have begun to wonder if our expectations of willpower are actually part of being human, or a surviving branch of behavior control similar to moral expectations that are human-constructed with a focus on control of human behavior. Similarly, the expectation of willpower has been to resist temptation of various sorts. I think a challenge we could address to move forward is the line between moral willpower, and physical fortitude. In my own experience, I had faced challenges with weight loss and then encountered medical issues that resulted in a complete change to my body as a whole. Happy side effect was for the first time in my life, it felt my appetite worked how I had always understood "normal" appetitie regulation to work. In my case, the hunger felt real when I ate. It wasnt willpower that was the issue, it was a confused body not behaving properly. I agree with the premise here and would love to see further thought on the value of willpower as a human trait - do we need it and if so why? and under what circumstances? Love the discussion, thank you for your perspective.
Very interesting indeed Sean and Andrew. Love 'liquid willpower'! That's the sort of two word constructs which will really make them even more popular!
Would love to talk about this in relation to our work on The Addiction Economy, and the 5 Models Framework of Addiction (Moral, Biological, Psychological, Social and the one we propose is added, Economic). A key part of the Biological is the view of addiction or whatever ill health results in harm, is the result of a brain disorder and so is solved by a pharmacological solution. Where the Economic drivers of ill health are forgotten by everyone, and are not part of the solution. The individual is blamed for their lack of will power, and the impact of the economic model on their community (social) overlooked. Certainly the regulation of the companies causing the problems doesn't get raise much.
I think you make some good points Sean but unfortunately saying that obesity is a a lifestyle disease perpetuates the "blame the victim" mentality that is pervasive. Yes, obesity has traditionally been addressed through lifestyle changes, as were many diseases before scientifically validated medications were available. Obesity is a genetic disorder, that like many others (depression, alzheimer's, cancer), can be affected by lifestyle changes. For many years, using medication to treat mental health had a stigma as well. We now now that medication in combination with other things including lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can be very effective (for both depression AND obesity).
Thank you for taking a moment to provide feedback. The article centers around a set of topics that seem to be getting deeper and more complicated each year, all while there is so much at stake. My hope was to motivate conversations like this. If you're interested, I'd love to chat some time so I can understand your perspective further.
Insightful! I have begun to wonder if our expectations of willpower are actually part of being human, or a surviving branch of behavior control similar to moral expectations that are human-constructed with a focus on control of human behavior. Similarly, the expectation of willpower has been to resist temptation of various sorts. I think a challenge we could address to move forward is the line between moral willpower, and physical fortitude. In my own experience, I had faced challenges with weight loss and then encountered medical issues that resulted in a complete change to my body as a whole. Happy side effect was for the first time in my life, it felt my appetite worked how I had always understood "normal" appetitie regulation to work. In my case, the hunger felt real when I ate. It wasnt willpower that was the issue, it was a confused body not behaving properly. I agree with the premise here and would love to see further thought on the value of willpower as a human trait - do we need it and if so why? and under what circumstances? Love the discussion, thank you for your perspective.
Thank you, Ashley. Let's connect and delve into this together. I appreciate the way you are expanding the conversation.
Very interesting indeed Sean and Andrew. Love 'liquid willpower'! That's the sort of two word constructs which will really make them even more popular!
Would love to talk about this in relation to our work on The Addiction Economy, and the 5 Models Framework of Addiction (Moral, Biological, Psychological, Social and the one we propose is added, Economic). A key part of the Biological is the view of addiction or whatever ill health results in harm, is the result of a brain disorder and so is solved by a pharmacological solution. Where the Economic drivers of ill health are forgotten by everyone, and are not part of the solution. The individual is blamed for their lack of will power, and the impact of the economic model on their community (social) overlooked. Certainly the regulation of the companies causing the problems doesn't get raise much.
Here is our White Paper
https://bit.ly/3LMUK0d
And here is a letter I got on that in the Financial Times last week
https://bit.ly/3ydHVsp
If we could interest you in a zoom about this, we would love to. hilary@societyinside.com
Thanks Hilary! Will connect you with Sean