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Here is a thread on why we must try to better understand and feel for obese people under our care (1)
Whenever I see a presentation or a TV show on obesity, it shows a picture of an obese person on a couch eating a junk food meal or a similar picture. This is a problematic image and I will explain (2).
Obesity reports in both popular and scientific media have focused on tackling two main problems: overeating and lack of exercise(3).
In other words the focus is on HOW people become obese. This brings in stigma and bias, and in the mind of the obese person, it brings in guilt as well (4)
Focusing on the HOW also is somewhat judgmental. Let us now focus instead on WHY people become obese (5).
And when you look into the WHY, you are looking at a complex interplay of environment, psychology and biology. All these factors are important (6).
Looking at the HOW instead of the WHY brings in a major barrier to understanding obesity, whether you are a patient, a healthcare professional, or just another member of the public (7)
But looking at the WHY means that one is not judgmental, and more empathetic- and now we genuinely begin to understand the person better. This could be a better way forward (8).
Looking at the WHY means that you are looking at environmental factors, including the surroundings, the soiety and the place of residence etc (9).
Looking at the WHY also means that you are looking at psychology/ behavior - why people do what they do helps understand their problems better (10).
And finally, looking at the WHY means that you/ we are also looking at the biology of appetite and activity (11).
This paradigm shift in our thinking could help us better approach the problem (12)
In tweet number 9 : there is typo in the spelling of "society"- please read appropriately.