Can willpower cure obesity?

Saturday, November 08, 2008 Posted by Travis Saunders

Today I came across a report from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care titled "Healthy weights, healthy lives". Although the report itself is excellent, the introduction from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sheela Basrur surprised me. In it, Dr. Basrur claims that obesity is caused "In part... by our genes or our lack of willpower." I don't think that many would dispute that genes play an important role in the development of obesity. However, to say that obesity is caused by a "lack of willpower" promotes the old-fashioned and unhelpful perspective that individuals with obesity are lazy, or simply lack the will or motivation that are clearly exhibited by their leaner (and theoretically healthier) peers. Further, statements such as these also ignore the effect of physical activity on health independent of obesity. In fact, it has been suggested that it is better for your health if you are "fat and fit" rather than "lean and unfit".

The complexity of the obesity epidemic is described admirably in the "Healthy weights, healthy lives" report. In fact, it is an excellent resource for those who would like to learn more about the role of obesity in our health as a nation. However, unless we can somehow increase the will of millions of overweight Canadians, I don't think that "willpower" will provide a cure for our current obesity epidemic.

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