Wonderology: Am I Bad or Sick? --"Fault Lines"

[Randy]

I’ve found the Wonderology series thoughtful. This episode discusses the question of how our biology interacts with choice.

For example, if GLP-1s, the MAOA gene, ketamine, and the menstrual cycle affect our behavior, what does that imply for biology and choice?

If you get a chance to listen to this (or read the transcript), I’d be interested in your thoughts. It is wonderful to have compassionate interaction about how best to help people. Spoiler: I think that there is no clear answer; but the questions help us with compassion and listening.
Thanks.
Ep. 3 - Fault Lines - Wonderology

[jpm (Phil McCurdy)]

I’ll have to listen to it. My daughter struggles with her weight as do I, and she has recently started on a GLP-1. She is struggling with that decision, as it implies she has been unable to lose weight on her own through a force of will, and somehow implies failure. She also struggles with how people will perceive her once she loses weight, and how any positive comments or opportunities will be due to her physical appearance, not to her intrinsic worth and ability. It gets complicated.

[St.Roymond]

@jpm

She is struggling with that decision, as it implies she has been unable to lose weight on her own through a force of will, and somehow implies failure.

I gain weight every winter despite maintaining the same or even lesser calorie input. Genetics can easily trump willpower, so concluding there’s failure is unwarranted.

@jpm

She also struggles with how people will perceive her once she loses weight, and how any positive comments or opportunities will be due to her physical appearance, not to her intrinsic worth and ability. It gets complicated.

If she puts in the effort for weight loss, even if it’s medication-assisted, the change reflects her “intrinsic worth and ability” because she’s the one who did it!