The body was never the problem: What we get wrong about obesity

For most of her life, Anna believed what she was taught to believe: That her body was a disappointment; that her size reflected a personal failure; that standing beside her sister who was prettier, slimmer, effortlessly admired made her deficiency visible.

In her family, no one needed to say it out loud. The comparison lived in glances, in praise that skipped over Anna, in jokes disguised as concern. Her sister was the one photographed, complimented, presented with pride. Anna learned...