> The problem with this (and all diet plans/drugs) is the lifestyle that led to problem in the first place.

I don't think we fully know what led to the problem in the first place.

I think it's a complex interaction between the types of foods we eat, and which are more affordable, our gut microbiome, and the amount and frequency of exercise which we are able to fit into our day.

We have some pretty good ideas that reducing intake of high glycemic foods, safely reducing overall calorie intake, and getting regular exercise will help.

However, it's the bad food which many families can most afford. Many people find it difficult to make time for exercise, since they are pretty exhausted from making a living. The foods which are bad for us tend to make us feel good in the short term.

When a person has become obese, it is harder to start exercising, and it's harder to find exercises which don't hurt their feet, joints, back, or other parts of their body.

Ideally, we would all have copious time to exercise, and healthy food would be abundant and affordable. But, that's generally not the case for most people.

And some people seem to be genetically predisposed to gain weight.