Why do some people find it harder than others to lose weight?

[helvella]

There is a podcast in The Guardian which questions obesity.

Quite possibly nothing that has not already been discussed on the forum, but could be of interest.

There is a brief text summary.

Why do some people find it harder than others to lose weight?

After treating thousands of obese people, bariatric surgeon Andrew Jenkinson was left wondering why, when most people eat too many calories, only some become overweight. After years of research, he believes he has the answer

theguardian.com/news/audio/...

You'll not be surprised that there is also a book:

Jenkinson’s book Why We Eat (Too Much) is out now. whyweeattoomuch.co.uk/

[RedApple]

Haven't listened, but this bit from the intro text:

'Jenkinson believes that by decreasing sugar and refined carbohydrates, increasing our omega 3 and 6 levels, and decreasing our cortisol (stress hormone) levels rather than cutting calories, people can permanently reduce their weight.'

makes me say that this is just another person jumping on the typical New Year resolution to lose weight, bandwagon. This basic theory is nothing new to so many of us, it's been around for what, twenty years now? It might still be a revelation to the medical profession of course, who seem determined to stay firmly addicted to the 'eat less (especially less fat), move more and take antidepressants' theory.

[helvella in reply to RedApple]

The medical view on calories-in calories-out is actually undermined by their own prescribing!

If you were prescribed Orlistat (Xenical), it would reduce the amount of fat you absorb. But did anyone ever see a doctor or nutritionist actually look at what you are eating and calculate the calories with due allowance for taking, or not taking, Orlistat?

It is precisely how Orlistat is supposed to work – that it breaks calories-in calories-out by preventing absorption of fats.

The NHS calorie counting page doesn’t say anything about this. No suggestion that fat calories might, even if only sometimes, need to be considered separately.

nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-we...

[LindaC]

Thank you for posting. Here's another, not totally new one, in keeping with the gut biome theme.

I actually recall - from 1969 - hearing: "If you are prone to gaining weight, you need to change your way of eating - forever - not 'go on a diet'." The 'diet word' is...!?

The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat- by Professor Tim Spector (Author)

Why do most diets fail? Why does one person eat a certain meal and gain weight, while another eating the same meal loses pounds? Why, despite all the advice about what to eat, are we all still getting fatter?

The answers are much more surprising - and fascinating - than we've been led to believe. The key to health and weight loss lies not in the latest fad diet, nor even in the simple mantra of 'eat less, exercise more', but in the microbes already inside us.

Drawing on the latest science and his own pioneering research, Professor Tim Spector demystifies the common misconceptions about fat, calories, vitamins and nutrients. Only by understanding what makes our own personal microbes tick can we overcome the confusion of modern nutrition, and achieve a healthy gut and a healthy body.

[helvella in reply to LindaC]

Professor Tim Spector - behind the non-official Covid-19 app which has provided far more data than the official one. And the twins study.

covid.joinzoe.com/about

[Marz in reply to helvella]

... and the Gut Project - in which I participated.

[LindaC in reply to Marz]

How did you find that, Marz?

[Marz in reply to LindaC]

It was about the microbiome and my sample was sent to San Diego to the American Gut Project. My results revealed my microbes were similar to others in the Eastern Med. Didn't reveal much - eventually I looked them up one by one. I had plenty of bacteria that protect you from Parkinsons - that was good enough for me ! Of course our gut bacteria change all the time and I did it to assist their research - not a test for me !

EDIT - gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/...

[crimple in reply to Marz]

Marz I took part too and have a sample kit for THDMI research in conjunction with UC San Diego Microsetta initiative with Twins College at King's Hospital.A few year ago I visited a nutritionist who had asked me to do a stool sample and got some very interesting info back about my Microbiome, which needless to say was odd

😅 like me😀. I need to revist the stuff. At the time my brain fog was horrendous. The last couple of years with the help of some Liothyronine has been much better😍

[Marz in reply to crimple]

Hope you find good news in your gut. Don't forget the little critters can change ! Glad you are feeling better.

What is THDMI ?

[crimple in reply to Marz]

THDMI, the Human Diets and Microbiome Initiative. Yes I want to know if my guts have changed. Being gluten, lactose and egg free will have some impact. I have been experimenting with Kefir and seem to be ok with that.

[Marz in reply to crimple]

When I signed up it was The British Gut Project. Moving back to the UK will have changed mine too ...

[LindaC in reply to helvella]

Thank you! Saw him on a TV show, over these Holidays, and found his manner and approach sound. 💚

[Marz in reply to LindaC]

He has done a few YT videos too ...

[LindaC in reply to Marz]

Thank you, Marz will check those out - his criticism of CI-CO is great for my ongoing... since his info was around in 2015

[Marz in reply to LindaC]

Think they are more to do with ZoeApp - sorry - b** steer ! 🥳

[Tuscansun]

IMO Insulin resistance and sluggish liver are the main causes of problems with fat loss. Weight loss is not quite correct as rationally you don’t want to lose bone or muscle weight - people want to lose fat. There are medically induced cravings which are almost impossible to resist and the only way to break the vicious circle is to stop taking meds and take time to detox.

[Yppah]

One of the things he suggests is yo-yo dieting increasing your natural weight point. I wonder how many people have done this trying to battle a thyroid problem a doctor didn’t find / dismissed / under treated. 🤔

[Yppah]

It would be very interesting to see a plot of people’s BMI against FT3 levels.