Is obesity about emotional trauma, bad genes or poor habits?
Gwen Brandenburg, Reno, Nev. You can be predisposed genetically, but it’s not a sentence. I’m genetically predisposed, but I manage my weight. The root of obesity, though, is usually emotional. The poor habits are a symptom of a deeper emotional issue. There are numerous video clips of The Biggest Loser in which you smile or laugh when “breaking” a contestant. What are you thinking when you do that? Andrew Williams, Ottawa I enjoy watching them struggle with something that seems insane. They’re just like, “You can’t be serious. You must have lost your mind.” But I know that they’re going to achieve [their goal]. I wouldn’t think it was funny if they couldn’t do it. (See pictures of Jillian Michaels.) You revealed that you’d had a weight problem as a kid. What are your thoughts on the obesity epidemic among kids today? Michael Charles, Austin, Texas Obesity in children is growing out of control. A big part of this is economic. Fake foods are more affordable. It’s enticing people to eat
