weight loss and set points

I have had many patents ask me whether we are born with some type of predetermined, genetically mandated weight "setpoint". These patients have told me that no matter what they do, how much weight they have lost, what diets they have tried, they seem, over time, to drift back to the same weight.

I do not believe this is true at all. What I do believe is that people develop certain behavioral tendencies as this relates to eating and exercising behaviors. At times, people will purposefully change their behavior patterns to lose weight (a "diet"), but then over time, will resume old eating and exercising behavior patterns. The weight then goes back to what they feel is some "setpoint". Yes, it is a setpoint, but it is NOT predetermined by some third party...it is determined by people's behavior patterns. Now, if we are to believe that people cannot change their behavior patterns, then there is , in fact, a setpoint. However, I believe that behavior patterns CAN be changed permanently. This is not easy of course, but most certainly possible. YOU are in control of your behavior patterns, not some unknown entity that has "preprogrammed" you. TAKE THIS CONTROL and prove to yorself that there is no such thing as a "setpoint".