Why We're Obese: It's Not Lack of Willpower

True or false? Most overweight people got that way because they're self-indulgent weaklings without the will power to say no to super-sized french fries and fudge-slathered ice cream.

If you answered "false," go to the head of the "Dieting 101" class -- where you'll find weight-loss expert Dean Ornish, M.D., doing his best to challenge the myth that lack of self-discipline causes obesity.

"After more than a decade of research on why people become overweight, I'm convinced that this behavior has very little to do with old-fashioned will power," says the California cardiologist and best-selling author. "Study after study shows that obesity is actually a very complex phenomenon -- and that you have to address the underlying psychological and emotional causes if you're going to successfully motivate people to eat less and exercise more.

"It has become very clear to me that simply providing people with health information about fat and calories isn't enough to motivate lasting changes in their behavior. If it were, nobody would smoke, because everybody knows it's not good for you," he says. "There's no longer any doubt that most of us overeat at times in order to compensate for difficult problems or painful feelings. People who are frequently stressed out at work, for example -- or feeling depressed and lonely at home -- are much more likely to engage in such maladaptive behaviors as smoking and overeating.

"Instead of trying to find the miracle diet or exercise program that will melt your fat away, many of us need to sit down and think about why we're overweight," he adds. "Once we confront the underlying causes of our overeating, we can begin to realistically challenge them, rather than merely counting calories all day long."

Dr. Ornish says support groups can play a major role. "The evidence shows that groups like Weight Watchers and Lean for Life often provide dieters with vital emotional support. In most cases, it helps to confront lifestyle challenges with friends who share your goals."

Find help to lose weight

What's the best way to find the psychological support that will help you shed those extra pounds? Here are a few tips from Dr. Ornish:

• Ask your family physician or the staff at your local health clinic to link you up with a local Weight Watchers or other support group.

• Talk to coworkers who've struggled with weight issues before. Find out if your company offers an on-site dieting and exercise support group.

• Check bulletin boards at local health centers, natural food stores or fitness clubs to find contact info about support groups.

• If all else fails, start your own group -- even if it includes just you and a pal. Set realistic weekly dieting goals and meet regularly to urge each other on.