And let’s not forget the ever popular: “The Devil made me do it.”

Seems like everyone and everything is responsible for the obesity problem in America except for the actual culprit: Americans are overeating.  Americans are not victims of some external plot that causes obesity; Americans are obese because they have lost control of their overeating.  Individually, and as a society in general, Americans are consuming more calories than they are burning, thus causing an ever increasing number of Americans with an ever increasing weight problem.  We need to stop looking for any possible external factor they may be affecting the obesity problem in America and focus on the primary cause of obesity.

Just as any 12 step program outlines, the first step is the patient admitting there is a problem and then take personal responsibility for solving the problem.  Realizing that you need help to achieve control over the addition is paramount to the ultimate success of any addiction treatment regiment.  Support for the successful management of any addictive condition can come from many resources—family, friends, professionals, and even the government.  As a healthcare professional, you can fill the roll as supporter, teacher, and friend in any patient’s weight loss program.

It is important to realize that no matter how good the support network may be to assist your patients in these weight loss goals, the results will depend mostly on commitment to achieving the goals.  Family and friends can help contribute to a healthy lifestyle; you, as a healthcare professional can provide information, counseling, and dietary supplements to help curb the patients appetite.

The government can promote healthy eating and lifestyles through public awareness campaigns, providing healthy school lunches, and subsidizing agri-businesses that provide healthy foods.  As we move toward a more socialized medicine model, where taxpayers pay a greater share of all healthcare expenses, the government has more of a stake in reducing expenses in preventable diseases--such as obesity.  While I strongly disagree with any mandatory government solution to any problem, public policy which encourages healthy diet and lifestyle will be good for the country in the long run.  One could even claim that it would be patriotic to control your weight, as it would free up billions in healthcare dollars to provide healthcare for Americans who require care for other serious healthcare needs.  By reducing the total amount of obesity in America, we can improve the health of every American. You can help others by helping yourself; it’s a win-win situation.

Have a long talk with your patients about how together the two of you can get a handle on the overeating and then make a commitment to each other that you will both take the steps necessary to get their weight problems under control.