A new theory on obesity suggests that people are addicted to fat-promoting, ultra-processed foods—and that medical drugs are the only effective way to lose weight and keep it off. These drugs, such as Ozempic, supposedly suppress hunger by acting on the brain’s food control center. This narrative is being heavily promoted today, but it has a significant flaw: it claims that permanent medication is the only solution.
As a medical doctor, I fundamentally disagree. I do not believe you must take a pill or injection for the rest of your life to stay at a healthy weight. Anyone can lose excess pounds and maintain a healthy weight using common-sense principles that align with human biology. Drugs may suppress symptoms, but they do not address the real cause.
Let’s step back and look at how weight gain has been explained over the years. Three primary theories have tried to explain why people gain weight—and why they often regain it.
1. Lack of Motivation:
This theory assumes that people regain weight because they lack the willpower or discipline to maintain new habits. Behavior modification programs emphasize diet, exercise, goal-setting, and support systems. When people backslide, the blame is placed on their supposed lack of motivation. But motivation is a weak explanation. Many people who are highly motivated in life—in their careers, relationships, and finances—still struggle with weight. So why would food alone be the exception?
2. The Set-Point Theory:
This suggests that your body has a natural “set point” weight that it tries to maintain. If you lose weight, your brain supposedly pushes you back to that set point through hunger and other mechanisms. But this theory lacks proof. No measurable brain or hormone changes have been found in humans to support this biological thermostat idea.
3. Addiction to Ultra-Processed Foods:
This is the newest theory gaining traction. It says that processed, high-calorie foods override the brain’s ability to regulate hunger, leading to addiction. As a result, the only solution is to take drugs like GLP-1 agonists, which help control cravings. But this theory misuses the term “addiction.” Addictions cause withdrawal symptoms—shakes, insomnia, cold sweats—when a substance is removed. That doesn’t happen when you skip a burger or a bag of chips.
Each of these theories assumes something in the brain is broken or flawed. But I believe all three miss the real point. Something is indeed happening in the brain—but not because of willpower failure, an imaginary set point, or addiction. The truth is much simpler and more profound.
What really drives weight gain? The answer lies in how the brain manages nutrient intake.
The author of the award-winning book, Diabetes: The Real Cause and the Right Cure, and Nationally Syndicated Columnist, Dr. John Poothullil, advocates for patients struggling with the effects of adverse lifestyle conditions.
Dr. John’s books, available on Amazon, have educated and inspired readers to take charge of their health. You can take many steps to make changes in your health, but Dr. John also empowers us to demand certain changes in our healthcare system. His latest book, Beat Unwanted Weight Gain, reveals the seven most essential strategies for shedding pounds—and keeping them off for good.
Follow or contact Dr. John at drjohnonhealth.com.
John Poothullil practiced medicine as a pediatrician and allergist for more than 30 years, with 27 of those years in the state of Texas. He received his medical degree from the University of Kerala, India in 1968, after which he did two years of medical residency in Washington, DC and Phoenix, AZ and two years of fellowship, one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the other in Ontario, Canada. He began his practice in 1974 and retired in 2008. He holds certifications from the American Board of Pediatrics, The American Board of Allergy & Immunology, and the Canadian Board of Pediatrics.During his medical practice, John became interested in understanding the causes of and interconnections between hunger, satiation, and weight gain. His interest turned into a passion and a multi-decade personal study and research project that led him to read many medical journal articles, medical textbooks, and other scholarly works in biology, biochemistry, physiology, endocrinology, and cellular metabolic functions. This eventually guided Dr. Poothullil to investigate the theory of insulin resistance as it relates to diabetes. Recognizing that this theory was illogical, he spent a few years rethinking the biology behind high blood sugar and finally developed the fatty acid burn switch as the real cause of diabetes.Dr. Poothullil has written articles on hunger and satiation, weight loss, diabetes, and the senses of taste and smell. His articles have been published in medical journals such as Physiology and Behavior, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal of Women’s Health, Journal of Applied Research, Nutrition, and Nutritional Neuroscience. His work has been quoted in Woman’s Day, Fitness, Red Book and Woman’s World.Dr. Poothullil resides in Portland, OR and is available for phone and live interviews.To learn more buy the books at: amazon.com/author/drjohnpoothullil
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