So we're all aware of Katie Hopkins' seemingly never ending vendetta against fat people, and her rent-a-gob approach to the media is an absolute dream for offence-driven viral content....
However, once upon a time she accidentally made a good point.
During her most recent TV show, she decided to take it upon herself to "prove" to fat people that weight loss was possible, except by gaining 4 stone and losing it again, all she proved was that thin people can gain weight, then lose it again. Her show didn't actually address any of the psychological underpinnings of what makes us fat.
This is the interesting bit.
There's a difference between people who have always been overweight and people who have gained weight steadily over time even though they used to be thin. Very very different behaviours drive these two things and any weight loss journey probably needs to start by identifying which of these groups you belong to.
For example, if you've always been overweight since early childhood (I fit into this category), you probably don't have any clue what a healthy lifestyle feels or even looks like. You're going to need a much different approach to someone who has previously led a healthy lifestyle and just needs to get back into the swing of things.
That's why the NHS is drowning in obesity related diseases that don't seem to be improving. Simply put, we're trying to deal with the "how to get thinner" and not the "why are you fat", so the whole thing turns into a cycle of fat people losing weight, then some putting it back on again and a couple keeping it off. There's no consideration of WHY the people who "re-offend" put the weight back on or how the people who stay thin manage it.
My belief is that to be successful, the why is infinitely more important than the how. Sort the why out first, then learn the how.
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HanPanStrawberryJam
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Well you've certainly given me something to think about and you're right, although I've never really considered it before and I think that's because I fall into the second group, (was always thin and only put on weight after retiring). To be honest you have made me stop in my tracks because I think people like me don't give enough consideration to those in the first group and I'm sorry for that so in future I will certainly be much more understanding and hopefully consider the problem from the other side of the fence. Thank you for making me more aware!
That's great that it highlighted the problem for you, but don't worry you're not alone I believe societies approach to obesity is totally flawed and in my experience, it's a massive massive problem
Absolutely agree I've said before the nhs is often missing the point here with all the advice on health eating and exercise but not addressing the psychological and emotional root causes of why a lot of people over eat or binge eat, it needs both nutritional and psychological approaches working together.
I don't fit! My reasons changed Fat as a child, mum likes feeding people and always wanted us to have enough to eat, that said my younger sister has never been overweight, I liked and still do like food.
As a teen became concienious and 14-23 years was a size 12-14 started to enjoy married life, became diabetic and then you had to eat regular carbs
after DS born was 16-18 never lost the baby weight was size 22 by age 38 dh had done around 6 years nights and I ate what I liked,
decided didn't want to be fat and 40 got down to 12.5 stone and a happy size 14, stopped weighing and crept back up to size 16-18
conducting friends wedding age 47 and managed to get back to size 14, and again stopped weighing and drinking every night
By the time I was 49 and 3/4 back at size 16 😁 started weighing in daily cutting calories and by 50 and 1/2 was size 12.
Now have 3 sizes in wardrobe 12, 10 and 8 And am nearly 2 years in
What I am saying is you are quite right but I think my reasons have changed over time BTW Most people unlike katie have gained weight over a much longer period! And actually enjoy what they are eating
There are too many myths and not enough real help. We know its a matter of input vs output, but that doesn't explain much either. perhaps we need to look at things from a different angle - like your post. I saw something on TV a while ago (might have been Michael Mosely) that said "it's untrue people are fat because they don't exercise, they don't exercise because they're fat" chicken and egg, or to use the correct term, causation versus association.
(to explain that simply, a boy was trying to do handstands. When he succeeded he happened to be wearing his yellow socks. Therefore yellow socks help you do handstands)
When you are huge, the noticeable benefits are small and morale doesn't rise much. Maybe it's time the holier than thou just shut up - they'd be more helpful to let us get on with it. One of my most frequent sayings through all of life is "I'll listen to any sensible suggestions - oh, it's gone quiet".
I've been big since a kid. My mum was one of those who was afraid people would say we were neglected, so there was always plenty on the table and plate, and we had to finish. It wasn't necessarily well balanced and healthy, but we'll let her off as the 60s weren't enlightened in all aspects of life. My generation is about the 1st to have enough to eat. 5 million years of evolution cant be reversed overnight. We instinctively eat what's there because you don't know when the next meal will come. All animals do it. A dog will eat to death if you let it.
Your last paragraph is dead right. Lets get it in the right order.
One of the few positive things you can say about Katie Hopkins is she is determined. This makes a huge difference to outcome in all walks of life. (she's got what she wants - lots of money and attention, and a lifestyle she likes). I feel sorry for her son. . . even though she walked away from The Apprentice for him.
(ps did you see the story about Carl Thompson who died this week - 65 stone
I'm not reading the press, they're doing their usual ghoulish take)
I agree, until obesity is recognised and accepted as an eating disorder, treated accordingly, there will be no long term success for the majority of obese people. I do not believe that we need to be patronised with diet plans and most of us do understand food labels like smokers understand the horrific pictures on cig packets.
Give us the support to help us sort out our psychological issues please
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I believe societies approach to obesity is totally flawed and in my experience, it's a massive massive problem 
Just don't know what else to do...
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