MADRID, 1 (EUROPA PRESS)
The endocrinologist and Nutrition specialist Cristóbal Morales has underlined that overweight and obesity are not explained solely by diet and sports practice, but are conditioned by genetic, biological, social, and environmental factors, and that their origin can be located in the maternal womb or in early stages such as school. Morales spoke at the presentation of the "Razones de Peso" initiative, promoted by the medical company Lilly.
During his speech, he recalled that obesity continues to be one of the "most stigmatized and socially misunderstood" diseases, even by those who suffer from it. In this regard, he cited an international survey conducted in 14 countries, according to which almost 2 out of 3 people with obesity believe that the problem can be solved solely by "eating less and moving more."
The "Razones de Peso" campaign aims precisely to foster an open dialogue about obesity, overweight, and prevention and treatment strategies from an integral perspective.
Currently, obesity affects around 18 percent of the adult population in Spain, and if overweight individuals are included, the figure exceeds 50 percent. Furthermore, Morales warned that 8 out of 10 patients who go to a consultation receive a "photocopied diet" as a response, without taking into account that each individual has different circumstances and needs and that "it is a world."
In this context, he insisted on the need to abandon that standard meal plan model that "has always failed and will continue to fail" and that is based on a short-term, high-intensity restrictive diet focused solely on weight loss. "We have to move away from that diet that has always failed and will continue to fail with a short-term, high-intensity negative diet effect that seeks weight loss. And I say it openly, I don't treat weight, I treat people," he stated.
The specialist defended that the approach must be personalized, sustained over time, and multidisciplinary, including guidelines on nutrition, physical exercise, stress management, lifestyle changes, and, when necessary, support with specific treatments "supported by the necessary treatments."
Morales also explained that "we have to know that when the body is at an excessive stable weight for a long time, and one tries to diet, that body goes into survival mode, decreasing metabolic expenditure," which makes weight loss difficult and favors the rapid recovery of lost kilos.
An Underestimated Disease with Serious Consequences
The endocrinologist has warned of a "very large knowledge gap" surrounding obesity, as it is often perceived as a purely aesthetic problem when, in reality, it can shorten life expectancy and significantly reduce the years lived in good health. Along these lines, he has pointed out that 53 percent of people with obesity are unaware of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and that 52 percent are unaware of the link between obesity and cardiovascular disease.
From the sports world, tennis coach Toni Nadal has emphasized the importance of seeking professional help and consulting to design an individualized medical strategy. He recalled that, "in high-level athletes, when they stop their activity, there is a risk of obesity. It is true that physical exercise and nutritional habits are important, but on many occasions they are not enough," he added, highlighting the complexity of the problem.
Social Stigma and Guilt
Designer and businesswoman Vicky Martín Berrocal has focused on the weight of social judgment on overweight people and how this stigma leads to strong personal guilt. As she recounted, "that leads you to guilt, to feeling that you are doing something wrong, to guilt about eating, to guilt about not being at a certain weight, to guilt about enjoying life, about food. It's constant guilt, and psychologically, those comments hurt you."
For her part, content creator and influencer Alba Díaz has pointed out that younger generations have also failed to "solve this problem." She explained that, with the expansion of social media, the population is continuously exposed to messages and opinions about physical appearance and aesthetics, which contributes to normalizing harmful comments. In her opinion, "to summarize overweight or obesity, to summarize it in a single reason, in a single cause, taking into account everything it entails, is a mistake."
The chef and gastronomic entrepreneur Dani García has also emphasized that this pathology cannot be reduced to a simple balance between calories ingested and expended, as numerous biological factors intervene behind it that condition the body's response.
"Razones de Peso": a necessary conversation
The director of Corporate Affairs for Lilly Spain and Portugal, Teresa Millán, has stressed that the main objective of the initiative is to encourage people to lose their fear and consult with their doctor regarding any doubts related to excess weight. "With 'Razones de Peso' we seek to open a real conversation about excess weight, to make visible the complexity of a disease that continues to be surrounded by stigmas and prejudices that do not help affected individuals. Having such different voices allows us to reach different audiences and convey the diversity of experiences while reinforcing the need for a personalized and comprehensive approach," she detailed.
The campaign has also incorporated other communicators and specialists in health and well-being who contribute to offering reliable and understandable information about obesity, including Aitor Sánchez, Esther Gómez, Alicia González, José Abellán, and Xuan Lan.
"Razones de Peso" is the continuation of "El Peso de lo Invisible," the project that since 2024 has been working to raise awareness about the reality of obesity. Since its inception, more than 9,000 people have visited its traveling information points, where they have been able to undergo free body composition tests, better understand their metabolic health, and receive guidance on obesity and healthy lifestyle habits.