My USA Today Comment

Grab a bullhorn and stand on the highest mound in your city and shout “Eat less and exercise more!” Watch how many people change because of it–virtually no one. Almost everyone understands the basic five-word diet mechanics of weight loss. If only it were that easy in the real world.
Modern-day weight loss is complex because the obesogenic world we live in has made it so. Naysayers can state their claims that all people need to do is put their forks down and “get off their fat asses” but proof is literally in the pudding–knowing this isn’t solving this. Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” And repeating the five-word diet mantra is just that–insane. It doesn’t work!
Because weight loss is complex doctors are going to need resources beyond their nurses and dietitians to make a real impact. Doctors are incredibly influential with their patients, however, time and resource limitations won’t allow most PCPs to effectively and consistently manage their overweight and obese patients. The obesity epidemic doesn’t begin and end with doctors but they are on the front lines and one of many positive forces that will be necessary if we are going to make serious headway toward a leaner, healthier America in the next decade and beyond.
The above post was a Comment on: Study: Doctors need tools to help patients slim down at 3/17/2010 12:18 AM EDT
In health,
David Greenwalt
Leanness Lifestyle University