The “Fat Trap” Article in the NY Times…Really?

An article printed last week in the NY Times discusses what the author refers to as a ‘Fat Trap’, and shares her own difficulties with being able to lose fat and keep it off.

With phrases such as “that the biological cards were stacked against me from the start” and “a genetic predisposition for obesity”, I can’t help but wonder, at least just a little, whether people with this mindset, on some levels, allows them to feel as though being overweight or obese is simply something they were ‘born into’ and as such, there’s just not much that can they can do about it.

The article states, “Researchers know that obesity tends to run in families, and recent science suggests that even the desire to eat higher-calorie foods may be influenced by heredity. But untangling how much is genetic and how much is learned through family eating habits is difficult. What is clear is that some people appear to be prone to accumulating extra fat while others seem to be protected against it.


Later, the author goes on to discuss a woman, Mrs. Bridge, who has maintained a 135 pound weight loss and the steps she takes to learn about what she’s eating and the caloric expenditure each of her daily bouts of exercise. She comments on this women’s approach with,  “Just talking to Mrs. Bridge about the effort required to maintain her weight is exhausting.”

Is that to say it’s ‘too much work’ to learn what foods one should eat and balance caloric intake with expenditure?

Of course, there are also discussions about how the good old pharmaceutical industry can ‘help out’.  For example, how about some leptin hormone injections, which appear to trick the body into thinking it’s still fat. Not so fast; these treatments are still years away from commercial development so, according to the article, those who want to lose weight and keep it off are on their own.

OK, then!  

I have another idea.  It’s really radical, so prepare yourself: If you’re overweight or even obese, you might actually have to go to extreme measures to get yourself to a reasonable weight and subsequently active and healthy lifestyle.  What if, just for argument’s sake, you learned the value of eating a diet made only of fresh foods and began eating those fresh foods while simultaneously began omitting the junk?  And, what if, at the same time, you also started moving?

People, come on!  Is it really that much of a mystery why so many people (over 30% of Americans) are obese? 

Look at what you’re eating, and doing (or not doing- as in moving) and make the choice to learn. 

We always have choices. 

Yes, there is a lot of confusing information out there, but here is the beauty of what I’m saying: if you take a common sense approach and remember to eat fresh vegetables and fruit, lean meats and some natural plant fats and don’t eat anything else, that’s really all you need to do.

No tricks, no mysteries, no pills, powders or potions.  Just fresh food.

Have you ever seen an illustration of a fat caveman?  There was no such thing.  Yet one more reason for us to eat the way they did, as in, the Paleo diet.

Click here for the full article.