06/18/2026
A top obesity doctor just said obesity is finally a choice. Then he explained why the choice has nothing to do with willpower.
Dr. Yoni Freedhoff. Medical director, Bariatric Medical Institute. University of Ottawa.
His exact framing:
→ Nobody chooses to live with obesity
→ Lifestyle changes alone don't work for most patients
→ That's been the evidence for decades
The choice in 2026 isn't between salad and pizza.
The choice is between accepting obesity as you've been told to — or treating it with medications that actually change biology.
→ Diet & exercise alone: 3-5% sustained weight loss
→ GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound): 15-25%
For women, obesity is connected to almost everything in OBGYN:
Anovulation. PCOS/PMOS. Endometrial cancer. Breast cancer risk. Pregnancy complications. Preeclampsia. Gestational diabetes. Postpartum depression. Pelvic floor dysfunction. Menstrual irregularities. Infertility.
For decades the prescription was "lose weight, eat better, exercise more." It didn't work because the biology doesn't respond that way.
If you've struggled for years and your doctor still says "just try harder" — you're getting outdated medicine.
The choice now is whether to treat obesity like the disease it is. Or to keep blaming yourself for biology you didn't pick.
— Dr. Rahi Victory, OBGYN & Fertility Specialist
mounjaro zepbound womenshealth fertility pcos obgyn weightlossjourney bodyimage medicalweightloss drvictory fertilityfactorfiction