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I don't know much about this stuff, but could anyone explain why willpower isn't enough? Like - isn't this something that is in our control? Also - if you don'

by xNeil 3y ago

I don't know much about this stuff, but could anyone explain why willpower isn't enough? Like - isn't this something that is in our control? Also - if you don't have the willpower to lose weight, wouldn't taking weight loss drugs put you at risk of relying on meds for everything? (Including stuff you might have the willpower for - now that you've tried meds, why would you ever do stuff the hard way?)

esbranson 3y ago
It is chemical and metabolic and hormonal. Stop eating for a week, and that feeling is not your willpower waning. It's not easy to willpower past biology, which for many includes unbalanced hunger control mechanisms. I chose a low-carbohydrate diet to control my appetite. But if semaglutide allows people to lose weight, then it's probably better than obesity. They probably could have been doing keto this entire time, but doctors cant prescribe it, the US Dietary Guidelines recommend against it, and the largest US medical organizations say it might kill you. Nor is it terribly difficult. But keto is not effective because of willpower, it's effective because it's chemical and metabolic and hormonal.
imtringued 3y ago
I wonder why people can't overpower their natural survival instincts... Geez these people must be lacking "Willpower".
Turskarama 3y ago
I'm going to guess there's at least some actions you could be taking to improve your life in some way, yet you don't. Willpower is a limited resource and some people have more of it than others.
mitchdoogle 3y ago
It's a chronic disease and there are many chronic diseases that are treated with permanent medication - diabetes, blood pressure, mental illness, HIV, to name a few. You can't will yourself to stop being obese any easier than you can will yourself to stop being depressed. We simply aren't consciously in control of our appetite or metabolism. And it's worth remembering that obesity contributes to many other diseases and premature deaths. Treating it long term will prevent a lot of human misery and billions in healthcare costs down the road, even with the high price tag that it currently has.

by xNeil 3y ago

esbranson 3y ago

It is chemical and metabolic and hormonal. Stop eating for a week, and that feeling is not your willpower waning. It's not easy to willpower past biology, which for many includes unbalanced hunger control mechanisms. I chose a low-carbohydrate diet to control my appetite. But if semaglutide allows people to lose weight, then it's probably better than obesity. They probably could have been doing keto this entire time, but doctors cant prescribe it, the US Dietary Guidelines recommend against it, and the largest US medical organizations say it might kill you. Nor is it terribly difficult. But keto is not effective because of willpower, it's effective because it's chemical and metabolic and hormonal.

imtringued 3y ago

I wonder why people can't overpower their natural survival instincts... Geez these people must be lacking "Willpower".

Turskarama 3y ago

I'm going to guess there's at least some actions you could be taking to improve your life in some way, yet you don't. Willpower is a limited resource and some people have more of it than others.

mitchdoogle 3y ago

It's a chronic disease and there are many chronic diseases that are treated with permanent medication - diabetes, blood pressure, mental illness, HIV, to name a few. You can't will yourself to stop being obese any easier than you can will yourself to stop being depressed. We simply aren't consciously in control of our appetite or metabolism. And it's worth remembering that obesity contributes to many other diseases and premature deaths. Treating it long term will prevent a lot of human misery and billions in healthcare costs down the road, even with the high price tag that it currently has.