Currently in the US, 69% of adults are overweight or obese, with 36% being obese. It is important to note, however, that these terms are defined by using BMI, a method that is largely outdated and that is unable to indicate detailed health information. Nevertheless, it is clear that many factors are leading to a rise in weight for a large number of the population, and this fact cannot be ignored.

Before the 1980s, the causes of overweight and obesity were more straightforward than they are today. The rise of highly processed foods, foods with high amounts of refined sugars, and foods with highly saturated fats have led to a dramatic increase in calorie intake. The makeup of these foods has been shown to create a cycle of overeating that leads to a dramatic increase in calorie intake. Research has also shown that the decrease in whole food diets and food diversity has greatly decreased the diversity of the gut microbiome, leading to an increase in overweight and obesity.

The nature of these conditions and the availability of cheap, processed foods has led to a problem that cannot be easily solved. Individual food choices can help with this, and moving to a diet of highly diverse, whole foods has been shown to help reverse overweight and obesity. The nature of the problem though, is that these types of food are not accessible to a majority of people. When this is the case, we may turn to weight loss injections to help. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are medications that help the body respond to insulin resistance that has caused weight retention and has been caused by sugary, highly processed foods. These medications are not a quick, permanent fix, and those that struggle with obesity may need to be on them for a long period of time to keep their weight under control.