Gee, go figure.  When will we realize that personal choice, (yes, even for those of us obsessive over-eaters, who enjoy the act of eating so much that we will eat long after our system tells us we are full), needs to be the target.  Telling people that it's not their fault, when they are the only one that can affect their own behavior, is tantamount to encouragement for negative habits.  When will we "grok" that, in terms of human nature, for many humans, as for many other mammals, our biological imperative is to consume as many calories as possible, while expending as few as possible.  that's a survival instinct.  but it developed when we still had to seriously work for our food, and to avoid danger.  it's a dysfunctional instinct in modern nanny-state society, but knowing that doesn't solve the problem.  it seems to be only us and our domestic pets that have this obesity problem.  What does that tell you?  Our dogs and our cats don't have to work so hard for our food anymore.  Neither do we.  What makes us unique among animals is our ability to know that.  holding patients financially and medically responsible for their behavior is the only solution.  Pre-op gastric bypass patients are mandated to behave in a certain way for a time before allowed to have the surgery.  they usually seem to succeed in it.  why not just make that mandate an ongoing thing?  As long as we, as parents, or as medical professionals, are willing to look the other way, and pass out pills or surgeries instead of looking our patient or our child in the eye and say, "only you can change your behavior", this problem will either be unsolved, or solved with treatments that will just promote other illnesses.  chemicals and treatments that cause weight loss don't prevent illnesses that result from lack of activity or exercise.