This could have been a good article. Unfortunately, Eliezer falls into the same trap as Robert by implicitly making up his own model (the “metabolic privilege model”) which should explain “everything”.
Whereas some argue that the “non-responders” are lacking willpower, Eliezer argues that they are just metabolically disprivileged. Thus, he explains why the rest does not respond.
But what does it mean to be “metabolically disprivileged”? Is our metabolic system really such a static system?
In science, every model simplifies. Take a look at physics: Quantum Mechanics & Classical Physics do not explain each other yet they aren’t wrong. Roberts model simplifies and might be wrong, but it seems to fit better than the “metabolic privilege model” which does not explain anything. He just put a black box called “metabolic privilege” in the room which explains the problem away.
But what does it mean to be “metabolically disprivileged”?
That’s an interesting question. As far as I can tell, it means that one’s fat cells do not respond to energy deficits by releasing energy.
So for example, a morbidly obese person who gets weight loss surgery and loses weight would fall into the category of “metabolically privileged.” Because his fat cells are reacting properly to an energy deficit. From the fact that weight loss surgery does generally result in weight loss, at least in the short term among those who survive it, it’s reasonable to infer that metabolic disprivilege is pretty rare, even among the obese.
Another question is whether metabolic privilege varies in a quantitative way from person to person. One can imagine that some peoples’ fat cells do a great job of compensating for caloric deficits while other peoples’ do a worse job. Pretty much everyone reports that weight loss is uncomfortable; perhaps those in the latter group will experience more discomfort.
It’s an interesting question, but I’m not sure it’s that important. A pretty standard diet entails a deficit of roughly 500 calories per day with an aim of approximately 1 pound a week of fat loss. But if a 500 calorie deficit is unbearable, there’s no rule which says you can’t dial it down to 300 or 200.
So for example, a morbidly obese person who gets weight loss surgery and loses weight would fall into the category of “metabolically privileged.” Because his fat cells are reacting properly to an energy deficit.
Not to white-knight the concept of metabolic privilege unduly, but weight loss surgery isn’t a metabolic intervention.
This could have been a good article. Unfortunately, Eliezer falls into the same trap as Robert by implicitly making up his own model (the “metabolic privilege model”) which should explain “everything”. Whereas some argue that the “non-responders” are lacking willpower, Eliezer argues that they are just metabolically disprivileged. Thus, he explains why the rest does not respond.
But what does it mean to be “metabolically disprivileged”? Is our metabolic system really such a static system?
In science, every model simplifies. Take a look at physics: Quantum Mechanics & Classical Physics do not explain each other yet they aren’t wrong. Roberts model simplifies and might be wrong, but it seems to fit better than the “metabolic privilege model” which does not explain anything. He just put a black box called “metabolic privilege” in the room which explains the problem away.
That’s an interesting question. As far as I can tell, it means that one’s fat cells do not respond to energy deficits by releasing energy.
So for example, a morbidly obese person who gets weight loss surgery and loses weight would fall into the category of “metabolically privileged.” Because his fat cells are reacting properly to an energy deficit. From the fact that weight loss surgery does generally result in weight loss, at least in the short term among those who survive it, it’s reasonable to infer that metabolic disprivilege is pretty rare, even among the obese.
Another question is whether metabolic privilege varies in a quantitative way from person to person. One can imagine that some peoples’ fat cells do a great job of compensating for caloric deficits while other peoples’ do a worse job. Pretty much everyone reports that weight loss is uncomfortable; perhaps those in the latter group will experience more discomfort.
It’s an interesting question, but I’m not sure it’s that important. A pretty standard diet entails a deficit of roughly 500 calories per day with an aim of approximately 1 pound a week of fat loss. But if a 500 calorie deficit is unbearable, there’s no rule which says you can’t dial it down to 300 or 200.
Not to white-knight the concept of metabolic privilege unduly, but weight loss surgery isn’t a metabolic intervention.