Why defended weight can make it hard to lose weight

A BMI of more than 30 kg/m² can put one in the category of obesity. Multiple internal processes in our body interact towards setting our weight. You have probably heard words to the effect that weight can be controlled by simply deciding to eat less and exercise more. This simplistic notion actually goes against the plethora of scientific evidence that point to powerful internal mechanisms that make our bodies want to defend a certain weight. Unfortunately, in a significant number of individuals, this defended weight is well in the obese category and voluntary efforts to reduce weight are resisted by very strong reactive internal responses that drive one's weight into the obese category.

Our defended weight is set by multiple processes interacting with each other:

• 1. our control of food intake centred at the hunger and satiety centres of the hypothalamus in our brain
• 2. energy expenditure
• 3. the body's thermogenesis (production of heat)
• 4. adipocyte (fat cell) biology
• 5. multiple other metabolic processes

In other words, some individuals tend towards obesity despite their best efforts to lose weight.

That said, appropriate dietary and exercise regimens are always encouraged. However, if these do not achieve a healthy weight, bariatric surgery is a very good reset button in many individuals.