For certain personal responsibility is a big part of it. But I believe also that a big part of the problem is we have been given dietary recommendations that promote weight gain. Following the food pyramid and eating as many carbohydrates that are associated with the amount of vegetables they recommend keeps insulin levels high. High insulin levels make it almost impossible to lose weight or keep from gaining weight.

So from my perspective personal responsibility is only half the story. Even people that have tried to eat "healthy" and exercise still have problems with their weight. Only when they change WHAT they mostly eat and ignore the food pyramid guidelines do they have success in maintaining proper weight and in some cases blood sugar levels.

So when people are given the wrong information of what and how much to eat of certain foods, some of them are doomed to failure. Even if they have the proper mindset and initiative to have good health.