Many of us have been told that obesity is simply the result of eating too much and moving too little. We now know that’s far too simple.

Obesity is a chronic disease. It develops because many different factors influence body weight, often interacting with each other over many years. Diagnosing obesity is complex also.

What we eat and how active we are matter, but they are only part of the picture. Our genes, hormones, mental wellbeing, medicines, sleep, life experiences and the environment we live in can all affect body weight.

Understanding this can help explain why weight management isn’t the same for everyone, and why obesity deserves the same care and support as any other long-term health condition.

Genetics

Our genes influence how our bodies regulate hunger, fullness and energy use. They can also affect where we store body fat and how our bodies respond when we lose weight.

Having a family history of obesity may increase your likelihood of developing obesity yourself, but it doesn’t mean it will definitely happen. Your genes are only one part of the story.

Hormones and appetite

Our bodies use a range of hormones to help regulate hunger and fullness.

When someone lives with obesity, these signals don’t always work in the same way. This can mean feeling hungrier, taking longer to feel full or finding it harder to maintain weight loss after losing weight.

Poor sleep, some medicines and certain medical conditions can also affect these appetite signals.

Mental wellbeing

Our mental health and our physical health are closely linked.

Stress, anxiety, depression and emotional eating can all affect eating habits. Long periods of stress may also change appetite and food cravings, making weight management more difficult.

Looking after your mental wellbeing can be an important part of obesity treatment. For some people, support from a psychologist or counsellor can be just as valuable as nutritional advice.

The environment around us

The places where we live, work and spend our time influence our health every day.

Easy access to highly processed foods, busy lifestyles, long working hours, limited opportunities to be active, financial pressures and social circumstances can all make healthy habits harder to maintain.

These factors don’t affect everyone in the same way, but they help explain why obesity is about much more than individual choices.

Looking at the whole picture

There is rarely one single reason why someone develops obesity. Most often, it happens because many different factors come together over time.

That’s why treatment needs to be individual. Understanding the reasons behind weight gain can help you and your healthcare team decide which approaches are most likely to support your health, whether that’s lifestyle support, medication, bariatric surgery or a combination of treatments.

Thinking about bariatric surgery?

If you’re considering bariatric surgery, learning more about obesity and how it’s treated is a great place to start.

Our expert-led Nourished Bariatrics courses are being developed to help you understand your options, prepare for surgery if you decide it’s right for you, and feel confident about looking after your nutrition afterwards.

Join our waiting list to be the first to hear when the courses launch.