Obesity: Finding Hope

By: Joni Boyd

“Obesity is where you have an excess amount of fat deposited in your body, it’s actually a disease of the fat cells,” says Dr Matthei

When you think about obesity, it’s easy to jump to conclusions based on height, weight, and outdated charts — but the reality is way more complex.

First off, obesity isn’t just about numbers on a scale, Dr Jenny Matthei explains, “Obesity is a disease where you have an excess amount of fat deposited in your body,” she said.

“So it’s actually a disease of the fat cells.”

It’s not just about being “overweight” — and you can’t always judge it based on appearance alone.

Here’s the kicker: even after weight loss, your body remembers the highest weight you’ve been and subtly tries to push you back there.

“One of the things we know about weight loss… is that the unconscious part of your brain remembers your maximum weight and drives you back up there,” Dr Jenny said.

This explains why weight loss can feel like such an uphill battle — and why it’s not simply a matter of “trying harder.”

The good news? There’s real hope.

From new medications that change your relationship with food to surgeries that have helped countless people, we’re in a whole new era of treatment.

“These medications are well tolerated by most people and they’re really effective,” Dr Jenny explained.

But she’s also clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all magic fix. 

Obesity is a chronic disease, and managing it means ongoing support, care, and compassion.

Maybe the best part of this conversation is how empowering it is.

As Jenny puts it: “I’m actively managing and taking responsibility for the choices I make around my health rather than being all perfect.”

You don’t have to be perfect — you just have to take one step at a time.