Obesity.  Every time I see this in the news, I think "What an ugly word!"  For anyone who is overweight or has reached the state of obesity, that state is nothing but uncomfortable. Nobody likes it. The condition often carries a social stigma.  

Why am I interested in this and writing about it? I have personally experienced the challenge of gaining weight and then struggling to lose it for much of my life. With God's help, I have dropped 50 pounds sensibly—but this time I have maintained this loss for the better part of a year. For me, it's presently a great feeling of relief and freedom! 

But I know firsthand what it feels like when you're trying to lose weight and it's not working. It hurts. It's an emotional burden. It's discouraging. What can I say to readers who know someone who is overweight or are themselves facing this major challenge?

Consider this: to achieve healthy weight loss and sustain it, it's going to take a commitment. And to be truly successful, it's going to take direct help from God Himself. I know that for a fact. I've experienced it. There is hope!

Here's how I used to feel when I was seriously overweight—perhaps you can relate: You find that you don't like the way you look and feel very conscious of it, especially around other people. You don't like how your clothes fit and how you feel. You want to lose weight and periodically go at it with one of many diets, methods or plans that are advertised…only to give up and gain back weight that you had lost. In frustration and emotional agitation, you do exactly what's going to hurt the worst: You eat things that you KNOW are not good for you and continue to suffer the consequences of the ugly word: obesity.

Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing prevalence in adults and children. It is one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Obesity is stigmatized in much of the modern world.

In 2013, the American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease. Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of eating excessively, lack of physical activity, but also of genetic susceptibility. Other factors contribute as well.

Consider this: since obesity has been re-classified as a disease, that should relieve some of the emotional stigma that accompanies it and lessen the toxic emotions that contribute to it. If someone tells you "Just use more will power to lose weight," they don't understand the true nature of the condition.

However, this does not excuse you from not doing anything about it. Accept the fact that it probably took a while for you (or the obese person you know) to get to the condition that you're presently in. Accordingly, it's going to take a while to get back to a healthy weight. Quick fixes rarely work, and they of themselves can be very unhealthy.

# 1 - So let's call that principle number one: after you make your commitment, accept the fact that it's going to take some sustained time to reverse the overweight/obese condition.

# 2 - Principle number two then would be to realize that you need to come up with a plan that includes modified diet and exercise. Don't make it so complicated that it collapses after a day or two. Keep at it.

# 3 - Principle number three includes the fact that you may blow it occasionally. Falling off your program simply means you persevere and pick up where you left off and don't get discouraged.

# 4 - Principle number four might include this: get your emotional house in order. Untreated or unaddressed chronic anxiety or depression can and will probably sabotage any real success you can achieve. Eating often makes us feel better because of the dopamine and other blood chemistry changes it induces. That's a powerful force to counteract!

# 5 - Principle number five and the most important principle is this: lay your plans before God and directly ask for His advice, direction, help and encouragement! Remember, Proverbs 16:8 is a promise that God makes to you: "Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established" (Revised Standard Version). God's will is for you to be healthy. He already knows your mind (1 Chronicles 28:9) and He knows what weaknesses you have—so don't be afraid to ask for help!

Why not start right now?  It can be done, and I'm living proof!

We have a website that helps with challenges like over-eating, addictions and other dysfunctions.  Click here for direct access.

You can lose weight and take yourself out of danger—I encourage you to take the first steps—however small—by starting today!

PS:  I'm just touching on this subject.  I want to offer hope to you, because you can break free from it like I did. It takes some effort physically and psychologically.  Publicly I do not endorse any particular diet or regimen, but would be happy to tell you how I did it if you write to me at victor_kubik@ucg.org.