What? Once you're overweight, you will be overweight forever? Surely we can have more hope than that! My father has lost a lot of weight and kept it off for years, it gives me hope that I can live a more healthy lifestyle.

To clarify, there are exceptions bit the vast majority of people are overweight because of metabolic imbalances like high cortisol and insulin resistance. There is no way to escape that without addressing the root causes. Maybe your father did, this is an achievement. I wish hin all the best.

> It has been scientifically proven that weight loss is impossible for any extended period of time.

Weight loss fads and fad diets don't keep the weight off. But, there are methods to change ones diet to be a healthy diet and along with that weight is lost long term. In addition to weight coming off, someone can have more energy and vitality along with a lower probability of getting diseases. There is a bunch of scientific literature on this.

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or serious. Could you please explain what you mean? Studies have shown that temporary diets (as opposed to lifestyle changes) rarely lead to long-lasting weight loss, but that's a far cry from "it has been scientifically proven that weight loss is impossible".

>It has been scientifically proven...

Please cite said scientific sources.

For instance: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/an-epidemic-of-...

That is just an examination of the overall rise of obesity. The abstract does not discuss anything related to how it may have studied and tracked individuals who were obese, lost that weight, and whether or not it was able to remain lost.

This doesn't make any sense without context and a citation.

Edit: Seeing that response, I think your top-level comment is a victim of Poe's Law...

I assumed it was common knowledge. Happy to share to source[1]

1: https://www.theonion.com/new-study-finds-it-is-impossible-to...

The Onion is satire. Either you're unaware of that, or your initial post was satire that just missed the mark.

Poes Law applies and I feel the only way out is doubling down. Which makes me cringe because I value HN discussion culture very much.

Garbage.