Feeling fat? Why not pop a skinny pill!

Just watched a segment on Catalyst debating the success of current research into diet-pills, and the desire for a 'magic bullet' to help the 'obesity epidemic'. Having struggled somewhat with this in my late teens and early twenties, it was a real revelation to me to realise (only in the last couple of years) that what I put into my body, and how I expend it, has a direct (and unequivocal) effect on what weight I am, and how I feel both physically and emotionally about myself. Of course, this approach does take a little bit of discipline, balanced with a healthy dose of being generous to myself at times. So my initial response to the 'obesity epidemic' is, why don't those affected try eating less McDonalds, taking a little more time to cook themselves healthy meals in sensible portions, and ride to work instead of taking the car everywhere?

Of course, I then thought back to when the struggle felt confusing and unsolvable for me, and realised that many people may not WANT to believe it's so easy - because that kind of discipline and self-awareness is NOT easy, in many senses. It does require constantly checking in with yourself, and simply putting the physical effort and time into exercise, which is often hard to keep up motivation for. It requires having a longer term goal or series of goals. But we WANT a simple solution, without having to change anything else we do - we don't want to give up our fatty, tasty, or easy fast foods, or prioritise exercise over other, more immediately rewarding, leisure activities. Admittedly, there must be a percentage of the 'obesity epidemic' that struggle with medical reasons as to their weight gain, such as those with thyroid conditions, or those who due to previous injuries cannot do much cardio activity long-term without pain and loss of sleep.

But the general desire for a 'magic solution' is one that I have felt myself, and not just for loss of weight, but for a whole range of issues (many to do with image and related self-esteem). It no doubt has a direct relation to the purchase of detox and diet supplements, skin products, and even plastic surgery. And in the bigger picture, it surely has a relation to the way in which we are culturally looking for faster, easier and less painful solutions to our problems all the time (from diet pills to the need to keep up constantly with the latest mobile and digital technology, always changing to make 'communication' easier... teenagers texting each other rather than talking...).

But this also makes me think of the fact that, in my own experience and in my knowledge of things, we (as humans) tend to flourish most when we are challenged; under struggle or duress. Without struggle, we have nothing to overcome; without goals and things to be achieved, surely our lives become somewhat apathetic and day-to-day pointless. It makes me think of the way religion tends to flourish best in countries that need something to help them through the struggle; in third world countries as opposed to countries such as ours, where things tend to come more easily and there's no real need to believe in a higher power, or even to consider the bigger picture at all, for those of us plebs in society at large. It becomes easier every day for us to simply satisfy our moment-to-moment urges. And it seems to me that the 'powers-that-be' would encourage us in this. We are told that to visit Maccas for breakfast every morning is quick and easy, and cheap (so what if it's not compared to preparing urself some healthy breakfast at home?); and so we spend our money on that; then we spend more money on pills that will counteract the effects. I wonder how much money now goes into trying to come up with these instant solutions and overcome any side-effects they may have - and I wonder if it really is possible to come up with something that meddles so clearly with our physical, genetic, and/or emotional make-up without any side-effects? Are we really so all-powerful that we now consider ourselve able to manipulate nature to such great effect? Well, why not, if we can make money from it - and satisfy the right-here, and right-now...