If the fitness, diet & nutrition industries were to diagnose Steve Jobs' weight problems, they'd likely say he wasn't eating enough, or was exercising too much.

I have no idea what Steve's hormone imbalance is, but I'd surmise it has something to do with insulin.

We've been accustomed to believe that weight management isn't a hormone problem, it's due to gluttony and sloth. The evidence is starting to mount that it's more complicated than that.

From the Telegraph article...

'The job of determining how fuels will be used - whether we will store them as fat or burn them for energy - is carried out by the hormone insulin with LPL,' says Taubes. 'Because insulin determines fat accumulation, it's quite possible that we get fat not because we eat too much or exercise too little, but because we secrete too much insulin.

Regardless of the underlying reason, here's hoping Steve recovers.

With regards to low carb driving down insulin - it's not to say I don't believe in exercise or in eating well. What bothers me is being told that when I find a lifestyle (low carb) that works for me, one that (IMO) saved my father's life after a massive (smoking-induced) heart attack, I'm discouraged to follow it by acquaintances, family, and media because "you're going to die of a heart attack", or "your liver will fail"; when I continue to discover that there's little to no evidence to be found of such things occurring, and that it might actually be good for you, if your body is of a particular type.

After a couple of years off the wagon, I'm going back to my preferred eating lifestyle in 2009 and intend to stay there. I will miss beer and wine for a few months, but don't think I'm saying goodbye, just "see again you some day, in limited quantities". ;-)