1
The Myths of Obesity
Capella University
PSYC3310: Brain, Body, and Behavior
2
The Myths of Obesity
The cause of obesity has long been thought of as the lack of willpower in individuals. It is
simply the result of overeating and lack of exercise. They are unwilling to control eating habits
and to put in the effort to maintain an exercise routine. It is not just a disorder involving excess
calories and inconsistent exercise routine. Obesity is a global health issue that has reached the
epidemic level. It affects millions of people across different age groups and socio-economic
backgrounds. It has detrimental effects on an individual's overall health and can cause things
such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and cognitive decline (Garrett & Hough, 2021). Obesity
can be caused by environmental as well as genetic factors. Cutting calories ingested can improve
heart health as well as increasing lifespan as individual BMI (Body Mass Index) comes down
(Garrett & Hough, 2021). There is a need to investigate whether obesity is really caused by
individual willpower and/or genetic predispositions and biological factors.
Flawed Source
, Psychologists prefer to refer to obese individuals being unable to resist high sugar foods
and carbohydrates as well as being able to maintain a prescribed exercise regimen as having a
lack of inhibition (Dulloo, 2012). Willpower to continue diet and exercise went away when
confronted with an obesogenic environment that encouraged overweight individuals to overeat
and did not encourage physical activity (Dulloo, 2012). Overweight individuals who did
maintain a diet and exercise routine eventually gained back what they had lost due to going back
to an obesogenic lifestyle. These are also a major characteristics of the binge eating disorder.
This disorder is characterized by episodes of eating large quantities of food, quickly, and to the
point of discomfort. These episodes are often recurrent. Overweight people are at risk for this
disorder due to dietary restriction and then uncontrolled eating. This serious disorder can lead to
The Myths of Obesity
Capella University
PSYC3310: Brain, Body, and Behavior
2
The Myths of Obesity
The cause of obesity has long been thought of as the lack of willpower in individuals. It is
simply the result of overeating and lack of exercise. They are unwilling to control eating habits
and to put in the effort to maintain an exercise routine. It is not just a disorder involving excess
calories and inconsistent exercise routine. Obesity is a global health issue that has reached the
epidemic level. It affects millions of people across different age groups and socio-economic
backgrounds. It has detrimental effects on an individual's overall health and can cause things
such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and cognitive decline (Garrett & Hough, 2021). Obesity
can be caused by environmental as well as genetic factors. Cutting calories ingested can improve
heart health as well as increasing lifespan as individual BMI (Body Mass Index) comes down
(Garrett & Hough, 2021). There is a need to investigate whether obesity is really caused by
individual willpower and/or genetic predispositions and biological factors.
Flawed Source
, Psychologists prefer to refer to obese individuals being unable to resist high sugar foods
and carbohydrates as well as being able to maintain a prescribed exercise regimen as having a
lack of inhibition (Dulloo, 2012). Willpower to continue diet and exercise went away when
confronted with an obesogenic environment that encouraged overweight individuals to overeat
and did not encourage physical activity (Dulloo, 2012). Overweight individuals who did
maintain a diet and exercise routine eventually gained back what they had lost due to going back
to an obesogenic lifestyle. These are also a major characteristics of the binge eating disorder.
This disorder is characterized by episodes of eating large quantities of food, quickly, and to the
point of discomfort. These episodes are often recurrent. Overweight people are at risk for this
disorder due to dietary restriction and then uncontrolled eating. This serious disorder can lead to
