Through Thick and Thin

This is the time of year when we slacken the reins on what and how much we eat, with the intention of dealing with any additional pounds in the New Year.

It's not a good plan.

The problem is, most people's bodies fight weight loss, and fight it fiercely. If you manage to lose weight, it fights – fiercely – to get you to put those pounds back on. It does this in ways you have little or no control over. It's not just a question of willpower and self-discipline. It's biology.

It's a great big steaming myth that weight loss is simple. I know this because I spent most of my adult life battling obesity, finally (or maybe just temporarily) succeeding. And I know this because I spent the last three years delving into the research. I've read probably hundreds of scientific studies, articles and books, gone to conferences, and interviewed researchers and clinicians.

'Through Thick and Thin' is about the things most people believe about weight and weight loss, and why most of them are wrong. In the program, I talk about my journey, and introduce you to two other women living with the reality of excess weight.

We look at what dieting and exercise can accomplish and can't and take you inside some of the labs where researchers are working to understand weight.

But if there's one thing I hope listeners take away from the program, it's that it's time to stop beating yourself up. Truth is people with excess weight are not freakishly undisciplined, lazy or gluttonous. We're trying to solve a hellish problem that our bodies don't want solved.

Through Thick and Thin airs on CBC Radio One on Boxing Day at 12 noon/12:30 in Newfoundland and repeats on January 2nd at 6 AM/6:30 in Newfoundland.

Contact

Twitter: @CBCDanielleK
Email: thinkandthin@cbc.ca