Name: Why your body fights weight loss
Uploaded: 2024-12-10T15:46:56Z
Duration: 11 min 35 s
Description: Why does losing weight often feel like an uphill battle? Physician Katherine Saunders unpacks how our bodies are wired to store fat, revealing that obesity isn’t simply a lack of willpower — it’s a complex, chronic disease rooted in evolutionary biology. She shares the science behind the latest breakthroughs in treatment, from lifestyle interventions to powerful new medications.

Katherine Saunders: Why your body fights weight loss

Why your body fights weight loss

Why does losing weight often feel like an uphill battle? Physician Katherine Saunders unpacks how our bodies are wired to store fat, revealing that obesity isn’t simply a lack of willpower — it’s a complex, chronic disease rooted in evolutionary biology. She shares the science behind the latest breakthroughs in treatment, from lifestyle interventions to powerful new medications.

The drive to hold onto body fat is hardwired by evolution, making weight loss a steep, often discouraging battle. In the United States, 74 percent of adults are overweight or have obesity, due in part to an environment overflowing with cheap, high-calorie foods. Attempts to lose weight trigger strong biological defenses, including slower metabolism and persistent hunger. Recognizing obesity as a complex, chronic disease—not a personal failure—is key to effective, compassionate treatment.