Obesity is a complex medical condition influenced by biology, genetics, and the modern environment—not a lack of willpower.
Obesity develops through a combination of genetic factors, evolutionary biology, and an environment where high-energy food is easily available. Our bodies are designed to store fat for survival, but in today’s world, this natural mechanism works against us.
Our brain plays a major role in regulating body weight through a mechanism known as the “set point.” This set point represents the highest weight your brain has defended, and it is controlled by the hypothalamus—the area responsible for hunger, metabolism, and energy balance.
When you try to lose weight through dieting, your body responds as if it is facing starvation. Hunger hormones increase, metabolism slows, and your body pushes you back toward your highest weight. This is why weight lost through dieting often returns quickly, leading to the familiar cycle of “yo-yo” dieting.
Understanding the set point helps explain why obesity is not a failure of discipline, but a biological response deeply rooted in human evolution.
Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery works by disrupting the biological pathways that defend the body’s set point. The surgery alters hormones that control hunger and fullness, changes gut-brain signalling, improves metabolism efficiency, and supports healthier eating behaviours.
Although the exact mechanisms are still being researched, studies consistently show that weight-loss surgery is the most effective long-term treatment for obesity—especially when paired with healthy lifestyle changes and ongoing support. It not only helps patients lose weight but also reduces the risk of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnoea, heart disease, and hypertension.
