Because of the complexity of obesity, I'd call it a 'syndrome'. And I'm sure psychological factors have a large part to play. After all, very few people want to remain 'obese', but (as has been said) they just can't make the necessary changes. I do blame the food manufacturers who promote and aggressively advertise sweets, burgers, pizzas, chips, KFC and many other unsuitable foods. And as most people in a household work all day there's no-one to cook a good meal for the evening, so fast, junk food is such an easy option when you're dog-tired and the family is hungry. So I think stress, sedentary lifestyle, availability of 'bad' ready meals and fast food, and the pace of working life are mostly to blame. I'm overweight myself, and can hardly contemplate changing my eating habits, so I do understand how hard it is for others. Even when you're told you're putting your life at risk, it doesn't seem to scare you into doing something about it!