Originally Posted by ratbastid

No, but it's also a half-solution to look at the individual abstracted from their context. Every one of us walks around with what we think are our own thoughts and feelings, the vast majority of which are instilled in us by our culture and our upbringing. We don't have a culture that values responsibility and restraint. We have a culture that values consumption and super-sizing. So, as true as it may be that obesity is a question of personal responsibility, just saying that isn't going to have one person lose one pound. You've got to tackle the context that gives rise to people's behavior.

And I'm including about myself here--I weigh more now than I've ever weighed in my life. Not by much, I'm within a pound or two of my previous all-time high, but still. And I'm not happy about it, and I have started taking action to deal with it. But I can guarantee you that making me feel bad about my gluttony is NOT a workable approach for me to win at a fitness regimen. What works is for me to start to inquire into what's behind the actions I take and the thoughts I have. When I really look, most of the time I realize that those originated outside myself somewhere. Have I adopted them as Truth and operated from them at the damage of my health? You bet. But not breaking those down leaves me like the guy standing on the bow of the Titanic yelling "Iceburg!". If you want to actually do something to make a difference, run to the bridge and turn the wheel, you know?