Certainly there is truth that people have varying genetic disposition
towards being normal weight or obese.   We've all known people who
seemed able to eat almost anything and remain thin, while others gain
weight on more modest diets.   This is nothing new.   However, a lot
more must be going on than just genes.   How would genes explain the
fact that in just a few decades Americans have gotten significantly
fatter?    Or that children are now more obese than ever before and
exhibiting type II diabetes for the first time?   If it were just a
matter of a genetic setpoint, this shouldn't happen.

If you;re doing LC, you should have found out by now that your hunger
is no longer uncontrolled.  That is one extremely important factor
that makes LC successful.   If you return to a high carb diet, in a
few days, the hunger will return.    Stay on it, and you can keep the
weight off.    AT about 190, I weigh 35 lbs less today than I did in
high school 3 decades ago, when I was obese.  And it's only because I
read and followed Atkins book.  There are periods when I'll wander off
LC and start eating too much of the wrong foods.  And I notice
everytime that I can do this for a few days, then the hunger begins to
quickly escalate.   But, I'll catch it when I've put on 5 -10lbs and
go back on induction and get with the program again.

You can't approach this with the idea that you're gonna do a diet for
X months, lose Y pounds as quickly as possible.   Almost always that
means you have the idea that once the weight is off, you can go back
to eating like you used to.    Do that, and you'll just gain it all
back.   You have to look at this as something that is chronic and has
to be monitored and controlled long term.  Which, with LC, still
allows plenty of wonderful food choices.

Many of the same things I did while losing the weight!  Watching what I eat,
staying LC, not overeating, and getting frequent exercise.  You cannot just
revert back to who you were before you lost the weight.  You must keep a
focus on maintaining your lost weight.  Those who regain the weight are
those who assume they can just go back to business as normal once you lose
the weight.  You can't.  it really comes down to how much you want to keep
the weight off.

That argument about people being genetically disposed is of the type used
when none of the other arguments seem to fit the situation.  You hear it all
the time in mediciene.  I do think that some of us are predisposed, or have
a propensity to being overweight.  It's almost like a skill or a lack of one
(ie, not desiring to overweight or not liking food as much as others).  Some
can be good at football, playing the flute, or can become bodybuilders, etc.
Some have a weakeness for booze and others for women.  Some people get
hooked on gambling. And some of us enjoy feeding the piehole!  I'm certainly
in that bunch.  But, I also enjoy exercising. So I use LC to blunt my
appetite as much as possible and then try to fill in with exercise.  Of
course, one still has to "want" it because no amount of exercise can undo
what most of us can force down in a very short time.

Didn't hear that story but hear the author taking about her book
on my local NPR station.  See show:
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2007/05/18 (Gina Kolata:
Thinking Through Thick and Thin)

I've lost substantial amounts of weight twice (90lbs+). The last
time was with LC and more WT exercise, the first time with LF and
more cardio.  Both times I kept the weight off over the 2+ years
that most people gain their loses back.

Keeping the weight off after losing it via LF and cardio was very
difficult due somewhat to the diet, but mostly due to the amount
of time the needed cardio required.  Ultimately I gained the
weight back.  Keeping the weight off via LC has been much easier.
 My loss was in the years 98-2000, and I've kept almost all of
the weight off.  A couple of years ago my shoulder was injured
and it required surgery.  During the injury and rehab I gained
some weight back because I keep eating as if I was still training
pre-injury.  I've lost most of it again yet still need to leanout
more to be back at my 'best' BF%.

In short, yes you can lose and keep the fat off.  BUT you need to
do it in a way that you'll be able to keep as a lifestyle.

As far as the book and author goes... I to agree, to a degree,
with what the author seemed to be saying.  Some people are dealt
genetic hands that make it easy for them to have low BF%, and
some have hands that make it too easy for them to pack on the BF.
 If you're the former, then getting and staying EXTREMELY lean
will be an ongoing battle with your body, one that may not be
necessary from a health point of view.  We should all walk away
form the pressure for look like the models in magazines. Chasing
after that illusion will likely be a foolish venture -- you are
who you are, you're body is unique.  If you chase after the ideas
of being healthy and fit, you can be happy with yourself even if
you never see the extreme leanness of your fantasy body.

I should also add that I'm a trainer.  Can I help people get to
six-pack abs?  Yes, but I wish that people would be primarily
focused on their health and fitness. Taking pride in those areas
instead on chasing a 'look' that they may not be happy at
maintaining.  In truth, most people give up when they start to
see the amount to time and discipline it takes to be extremely
cut, so they totally give up on all diet and exercise.  Their
increase in strength and stamina isn't enough of a reward because
that isn't their focus.