Weight gain support
Why Obesity Is More Complex Than Willpower: Understanding the Barriers to Change
By Samantha James, BSc Health & Wellbeing Coaching
For decades, we’ve been told that obesity is simply about “eating less and moving more.” But the truth is far more complex — biologically, psychologically, and socially. Obesity is now recognised as a multifactorial, chronic metabolic disease (Jastreboff et al., 2019), one that involves far more than calories in and calories out.
It’s not a matter of willpower. It’s a matter of systems — inside our bodies and outside in our environments — that make healthy change far harder than it should be.
The Body’s Complex Feedback Systems
Our bodies are wired for survival. The hypothalamus — the control centre for hunger, hormones, and even emotion — regulates eating habits through a delicate feedback system involving leptin, ghrelin, serotonin, and norepinephrine (Tarantino et al., 2010; Esposito & Giugliano, 2004). When this system becomes damaged, often from chronic stress or diets high in sugar and ultra-processed foods, it can stop sending the signal that we’re full. The body simply doesn’t know when to stop eating.
Some people even carry rare genetic variations, like the MC4R gene mutation, which intensifies hunger and cravings (Qi et al., 2008). Over 400 genes are now thought to play a part in obesity (Meldrum et al., 2017).
So when someone struggles with weight, individuals are often battling their own biology — a body designed to protect them from starvation, not from abundance.
The Addictive Power of Modern Food
In today’s world, food isn’t just nourishment — it’s engineered temptation. Processed foods combine sugar, fat, and salt in ways nature never intended (Paula et al., 2017). Studies using brain imaging show that eating refined carbohydrates and sugars activates the same reward centres as addictive drugs, releasing dopamine — the “pleasure chemical” — and triggering cravings (Berridge, 2009). Over time, the brain down-regulates dopamine receptors, meaning people need more of the same food just to feel normal (Hauck et al., 2020).
This doesn’t happen because people are weak. It happens because we live in a food environment designed to hook us.
And while it’s easy to say “choose healthier options,” for many, those options are simply out of reach.
The Environment We Live In
In deprived areas, access to fresh produce can be limited, expensive, or unsafe to access. Meanwhile, calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods are everywhere — on billboards, bus stops, and social media (Pan et al., 2021).
Government policies often focus on individual responsibility rather than corporate accountability. Instead of regulating food marketing or improving access to affordable, nutritious food, the system places blame on the individual — a form of institutionalised shame (Long et al., 2020).
It’s no wonder that people living in disadvantaged areas are statistically more likely to struggle with obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions (Chen et al., 2020). The odds are stacked against them long before they step on a scale.
The Emotional Weight We Carry
Obesity and depression are deeply connected — a bidirectional relationship where one often worsens the other (Chauvet-Gelinier et al., 2019). Chronic stress, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and trauma all disrupt hormones that regulate hunger and satiety (van der Valk et al., 2019). And when we’re emotionally drained, it’s only natural to reach for the foods that bring temporary comfort.
Yet shame, judgement, and stigma only add to the burden. Weight bias — from peers, professionals, and even healthcare systems — is known to reduce motivation, damage self-esteem, and worsen health outcomes (Täuber et al., 2018; Dolezal, 2022).
Healing requires empathy, not criticism.
The Path Forward: Compassion and Support
Lasting lifestyle change isn’t about diets or deprivation. It’s about support, structure, and self-compassion. Research consistently shows that people are more likely to sustain weight loss when they receive ongoing encouragement, accountability, and behavioural coaching (Nanchahal et al., 2009; Wallace et al., 2000).
Techniques like Motivational Interviewing help individuals uncover their own wisdom and readiness for change (Miller & Rollnick, 2012). By working collaboratively — rather than prescribing or judging — we help people reconnect with their bodies, rediscover trust in themselves, and move toward change that feels safe and achievable.
A Subtle Shift, A Healthier Future
Obesity isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a public health failure. Until policy reflects that, people will continue to face an uphill battle. But change is possible, especially when it’s grounded in understanding, empathy, and evidence.
If you’re navigating your own journey toward health, please know: you don’t have to do it alone. Compassionate, evidence-informed support can help you build sustainable habits and a kinder relationship with your body.
For tailored lifestyle, movement, nutrition and behaviour-change support, visit The Coastal Health Compass — where we focus on embodied, human-centred health.
