Tag Archive for: peptides

Obesity: A Man-Made Disease

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In order to determine whether obesity is an untreatable disease without pharmaceuticals, I took a look at BMI data since 1960. In comparing the BMI of people in the lowest income brackets with the highest income from 1960 through 2024, the lowest income group is always about one BMI unit above the highest income group. The adjusted mean is roughly a BMI of 27 for the poor people versus 26 for the richest people. That continues until the mid-1980s. After that point, the mean BMI continues to rise for the next 40 years—a mirror image with the same one BMI-unit difference.

Mid-1980s

What happened in the mid 1980s that caused the surge in obesity? After checking various sources, there appear to be three factors, not ranked in any particular order.

  • The mid-1980s saw increases in two-income families. There are plenty of economic reasons for that, but the net effect was less time spent preparing food in the home and a reliance on convenience food purchases.
  • There was an increase in fast-food drive-thrus and take-out foods. Since COVID, there is more reliance on food delivery.
  • The mid-1980s saw an increase in ultra-processed foods. Using inexpensive ingredients, particularly carbohydrates and fats, and filled with flavor enhancers that accented the salty and umami, the amount of ultra-processed food has risen to over 50% of the typical American’s diet.

She was asked, “If people stop using GLP-1, will they gain back the weight?” She said yes because there’s no other way to maintain weight loss because of the fat setpoint. I just can’t accept that premise.

The Bottom Line

Overweight and obesity appear to be man-made diseases because of the environment we live in today with so much easily available food. However, I cannot accept that the fat setpoint is permanent. Yes, there are many factors in the brain, the pancreas, and the digestive system that control the feelings of hunger and the anticipation of food, but that doesn’t mean you really need nutrition. You and I just have to learn to ignore those signals that say, “what will my snack be?” when we’re still stuffed from dinner. We must take command. I’m not suggesting it will be easy, but it’s not impossible. In my mind, it’s a lot easier than taking a medication every day for the rest of my life.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

References:
1. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 73.
2. Stat Pearls. 2025. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Is Obesity a Disease?

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In a podcast about GLP-1 receptor agonists and several new medications that are under development, the expert was a researcher on the cutting edge of what these peptides can do for weight loss. A couple of things she said didn’t sit right.

One was that obesity is a disease of genetic tendencies to store fat more effectively and create a body-fat setpoint. The implication is that in a land of food abundance, specifically ultra-processed food, the setpoint could be raised but never lowered without medical intervention. The second was that these medications are the best solution for obesity, and thus people will have to take the medications for life or they’ll gain back weight.

According to the World Health Organization and just about every other medical society in the world, overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. But is it as simple as that? Based on a recent paper, the risk of getting type 2 diabetes is 7% to 12% in men and women at a BMI of 30; as BMI increases to over 40, the risk goes up to 74% for both men and women. It’s not an excuse to stay obese, but does it mean someone who is obese will get the diseases associated with obesity?  I have more questions, and I’ll cover them on Saturday.

Insider Conference Call is tomorrow night. The topics of the evening are reviewing the top five foods that prevent cancer as well as answering Insider questions. Interested? Become an Insider by 8 p.m. Wednesday and you can join in.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

References:
1. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 73.
2. Stat Pearls. 2025. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes