DNA and Donuts
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Have you ever blamed your genetics to explain or justify why you are out of shape and overweight? I have.
Its an appealing argument because it seeks to absolve us of personal accountability and responsibility. It is painful to accept the idea or truth that we of our own free will have chosen to be overweight.
We have known for years that highly processed, calorie dense, animal based products lead to obesity and disease. Yet so many of us continue to eat these foods and then blame our genetics for our lack of health.
It’s true that some of us seem to retain and store fat better than others, but this wouldn’t matter if we didn’t eat the garbage in the first place.
Genetics explain why some people store better, but it doesn’t explain why we, as sentient beings with free will, choose to put foods and liquids into our bodies that we know are harmful.
This is all very complex and complicated since we must also consider psychology, nurture, learned habits and behaviors, culture, trauma, and traditions. But one thing I cannot abide is our cultures constant obsession with attempting to absolve personal accountability and responsibility.
To say that being overweight is not my fault would be erroneous. For you to say that being overweight is not your fault is a lie. Sure your upbringing, trauma and genetics might not be helping. But we are not puppets, we are free agents with the capacity to choose and change our choices.
Although it might not be easy, you could choose to drink water instead of soda, or eat fruit instead of cake. It is bold to say, and I know some will disagree, but obesity is a choice, it is not something that is inflicted upon us by something or someone else.
Until such times as we accept that we have the power to control and direct our lives, we will never alter our current circumstances.
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I don’t disagree that free agency has a lot to play in obesity in the same way it does in those that are under weight too. I find it interesting the one is seen as a result of mental illness and the other not, even though both are unhealthy situations ( social bais I feel has a lot to do with this). In all fairness they are both very much linked to psychological reasons, that can be painful and difficult to address. It can take a lot of courage to voice those reasons and admit to needing help and even then it can take a long time to fully address and be able to work through those steps. I also believe they are also starting to recognise food addiction, may not be drug or alcohol but can be just as harmful. In addition there are situations where medical reasons come into play birth control pills, antidepressants and even thyroid medication can cause weight gain for individuals. In addition there are times when buying a pound ready meal is easier and cheaper than trying to make a meal ( not my words but recent conversation I had with a service user in work). Even rugby players going by a bmi reading are overweight, so maybe the markers are wrong and need readdressing. I agree that free agency has a role to play in choosing not to engage in certain foods, but I feel that the concern is not as simple as you would make it out to be.