Why Women Lose Weight—or Don’t

" Who needs 4 cheese burgers? Or 2 refills on a "super sized" coke, and why are you drinking and eating that crap anyways? "
Apparently you dont have a weight problem because if you did you would realize that being overweight is not as simple as you just made it out to be. I have NEVER eaten 4 cheeseburgers, let alone even thought of doing so and i have been overweight my whole life. I'm not saying i dont make poor choices in the food i choose to eat . Just dont make it seem like all fat ppl do is sit there and eat McDonalds all day everyday.
I am a very active woman, i excercise on a regular basis and i run after 3 kids under 3 every day. I make it a part of my life to try and make healthy food choices for me and my kids and i am STILL struggling on my VERY slow road to my ideal weight.
I just cant stand people who think "just stop eating junk food and all your problems will be solved" It's not that easy or simple, and NOT ALL OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE ARE PIGS.

"Fat as the new normal." Sounds like promoting unhealthy as being normal. Why don't you go ahead and say: "Smoker or alcoholic, the new normal." That way those that lead an unhealthy lifestyle don't feel bad about themselves or the choices they make. It's unhealthy, but it can be that bad since its normal.

A major flaw with this article and the studies it cites is that they assume the BMI is an accurate measurement of health, which it isn't always. According to the BMI scale, athletes like football players and weightlifters are "obese", but because they have more muscle relative to thier height (muscle weighs more than fat). For the same reason, a woman with a normal BMI could still have unhealthy amounts of fat in her body - the number is good but perhaps the ratio of fat and muscle is not. Other factors like bone density and genetic background should be taken into account. The most important thing is to look at what is healthy and normal per individual. Using such a generalized scale like the BMI won't give anyone an accurate picture of their health.

In the end it's about your happiness. Are you happy with how you look and feel? If not then it is your choice to change that. No one is going to help you with anything unless they get something out of it. I've learned that you can only trust people to help themselves. You may be alone but you are also in control. No matter what gimicks are developed and what research is brought out gaining weight is ALWAYS a matter of consuming more calories than you burn. Have you every been on the calorie calculating treadmill...when your legs start feeling a burn you look at the number and it says you have only burned 10 calories! That should put into perspective of how much excersize it takes to burn just 1 can of soda. (150 Cal)

It's embarrassing that you can't spell embarrassing...and the fact that you spelled it wrong twice.

I am angry..Not every overweight/obese/morbidly obese person is a lazy, super size me, cake eating, couch potatoe. I lead a very hectic busy life. I rarely eat fast food and don't eat large portions of food. But I come from an obese family and was never taught proper eating habits. I take medicines that cause me to gain weight. I am unable to excersize do to developing osteoperosis @ the age of 29 and I have knee damage. I used to weigh 487 lbs now down to 370 but unable to lose anymore. wasn't done by dieting but by stress and anxiety. Life can be very hard on someone who is not the normal body weight.. Be a little kinder and don't judge so quickly.. Everyone has an excuse but some are legitamite..Ask before ye crucify.

I am sure glad all you have the world by the tail and can SAVE the FAT PEOPLE!!!!! Just remember what you say and do may come around and bite you in the butt.

Carla, you have a point. All of the so called diets are expensive. You know the best and cheapes way to lose weight is to get off the couch. There are so many things around the house that you can do that can count as activity. Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, mopping are just some examples. You don't have to join a gym or order special food to lose weight. Instead of chosing to fry that chicken breast, grill it, or broil it. There are small changes that can make a difference. Oh yea and leave the sodas at the store. There are the few people that do have serlous health issues such as thyroid problems, even with those problems those people can lose weight if they tried.

yes! im going to agree with the other commentors. fat people are fat and lazy. they need to just being so unhealthy and fat and get out of the house sometimes. its not at all normal to be a *** like the women on the picture of this story. if you start putting that idea out there it's just more justification for these already "victims" to keep doing what they are doing. go outside and excersize!

To "meshead"...obviously you are looking at the outside factors of weight loss and it seems at the same rate being quite insensitive to the obstacles those struggling with their weight endure. It is not as simple as you so rudely try to portray below in your comment. Just as other things, such as alcohol and drug addiction, lays underlining problems, issues that cause the weight gain/loss. Would you be so harsh to judge someone who is suffering from anorexia? As to "Chanel_1982" GREAT JOB on your weight loss!!!!!

I am a bit overweight but you know what... guys love my curves. They said that is soooo much sexier than someone who has no body fat or is stick thin. I work at maintaining my weight everyday and it is a struggle and my best friend is working on losing some. I give her all the power in the world to do what she can do to lose some. But to all you curvy women out there.... I give you a big shout out!!! GO CURVY WOMEN!!!!

and do not forget that some people cannot walk very far due to medical conditions (arthritis) so they also have trouble with weight due to both their disease and the steroids and do not get me started on the women who walk 2 miles a day and still weigh 200+ pounds and look like they weigh 150 pounds

I'm 20, 5'6 and weigh 170lbs, and I am comfortable with the way I am. When i was a junior in HS i started losing weight and lost about 30 lbs (I don't know what I did differently between my jr, sr years and any other year) but i gained it all back. I wear a size 12 in most places, and I think I look good. I have curves in ALL the right places. I personally think that I look better than some skinny ass in a size 0.

I love how all the "obese" or overwight people get so mad when the truth be told. Its not that all us "skinny" people are being judgemental. We are just pointing out what has worked for us, and if you would try it than you wouldn't be overwight. I have recently had 4 children in 5 years, and now, at 5'7 and 135 lbs it hasn't been easy. I practice what I preach. Sacrifice and HARD work! Don't bash the skinny people either. We work HARD for our nice bodies!

theres nothing wrong with being happy with your size nomatter how big or small you are. anyone who is so judgemental that they cant shut it and mind thier own business isnt doing anyone any favors
fat people know they have a weight problem but often are too discouraged with dieting to do anything about it. most supersized people need to see a doctor and a fitness trainer in order to lose enough to be truely healthy and cant afford it because i can tell you that most fat people dont have cash to make it happen either by way of healthcare... a system i might add that doesnt usuallly look at weight problems as a medical problem... or savings from their jobs
because americans fat and thin are too into instant gratification and spending all or most of their money well before it is earned.... alll you people out their who think being mean to the next fatty you come in contact with them because you think it will help them want to lose it .... think !!!! please !!!! all you are doing is being hurtfull which will lead to more binge eating and feelings of self loathing not fat loss enablers i can tell you .... so be kind please

I think the most important thing is being healthy. I have a problem with weight being categorized into numbers, especially the BMI. There are (contrary to the below comments) hereditory and medical reasons as to why people cannot loose weight. Some have extremely low metabolisms that make it difficult to loose weight. My hubby is 5"10, 285 lbs, eats an extremely healthy diet ( I am a dietician) and exercises every day, both cardio and light weights and guess what, by BMI standards, he is overweight. It is true that SOME overweight people don't exercise eat all day, etc, etc. But you would be surprised by those who actually dont. When you don't eat, your brain tells your body that it is starving and then it goes into slow mode, where you don't metabolize hardly a thing. So before you start bashing those who are bigger than you, maybe you ought to take a look at your self and see what you can change to be a healthy individual. Not just skinny.

Yes, all the weight loss games work AT FIRST! I am 60 and have a BMI in the range mentioned. I've been through Weight Watchers, no fat, low carb - the whole mess. Nothing works over time because none of them let you live a normal life. Read Re-Thinking Thin and find what REALLY happens when you starve yourself. Now I'm working with a diabetes educator (no I don't have diabetes because I'm "overweight". I have six generations of diabetics in my family) who is working with me on medications and behavior patterns. At 5' 1 1/2 inches tall I now weigh in the 170s instead of the 190s. My weight "shape" is exactly the same as my mother and grandmother at my age. I do NOT believe any diet or demands for "will power" could possibly change the body I was born with. And as for my "image"? Spockman makes ME puke.

Being overweight is not an illness. People should exercise and be productive with their day not just sitting on the couch with a bag of doroitos. The avarage person should be walk 10,000 steps per day and I know that there are not alot of people out there that are doing that. Don't just sit at your desk thinking that there is no way you make those 10,000 steps. I gues with a diet plan the start should be making sure that you walk 10,000 steps a day. Honestly, the second thing should be is soda. People in America drink way too much soda and soda has empty calories!

To the young gal w/ PCOS--I am 39 years old and just had a baby boy a few months ago. I have been taking Metformin for a few years, and this helps to lower your Estrogen, thereby helping to regulate your hormones that regulate ovulation. Metformin also helps lower Insulin (it's typically prescribed for Diabetes patients) and may help you lose weight. Don't lose hope--there are many good books on PCOS and also plenty of treatment alternatives.