Why Obesity is More Complex Than We Think

For a long time, obesity was explained through a simple formula: eat less and move more. While energy balance does matter, this view leaves out the bigger picture and often places blame on individuals rather than acknowledging the complex world they’re living in. More current research now shows that obesity is shaped by a wide network of influences that interact with one another, not by willpower alone.

This is where systems thinking becomes essential. Instead of focusing on one behaviour or one choice, systems thinking zooms out to consider how our environment, stress levels, sleep, relationships, socioeconomic circumstances, genetics, and community design all work together. Each factor matters on its own, but it’s the interplay between them that truly shapes health outcomes.

Obesity is now understood as an emergent condition, something that arises from the combined effect of many elements. Genetics can influence someone’s susceptibility, but the environment often carries more weight. Access to nutritious food, financial stability, cultural norms, emotional wellbeing, and exposure to ultra-processed options all affect how likely someone is to gain or maintain weight. For example, people in lower socioeconomic areas often face higher stress, fewer safe spaces for movement, limited access to fresh food, and a stronger presence of processed, affordable options. These factors have nothing to do with motivation, and everything to do with context.

Social support is another powerful, underrated component. Research consistently shows that people who feel connected, encouraged, and held accountable are more likely to sustain healthy behaviours over time. Change becomes easier when you don’t feel alone, and much harder when your environment works against you.

This holistic understanding helps us move away from oversimplified, judgement-based narratives and toward compassion-based solutions. When we see obesity through a systems lens, we begin to understand that individuals aren’t the problem, the system they’re navigating is. As technology continues to evolve, it allows researchers to map these connections more clearly, paving the way for better public health strategies and more supportive environments.

At its core, systems thinking reminds us that health is never just physical; it is is emotional, social, mental, and environmental too. When all parts of someone’s life are acknowledged, we can support them in a way that feels realistic, empowering, and sustainable. This is why ORA Health is built on a whole-person philosophy and the prioritisation of meaningful wellbeing.