Why, in the weight loss industry, is it called "losing THE weight"? What's with the "THE"???

I've always wondered if it was some sort of grammatical rule or if it's a way to disociate the excess poundage from the obese or overweight person...like, a way of saying: "That fat and blubber isn't PART of me; which is why I'm trying to get rid of it!" "Losing THE weight" just falls oddly on the ears too...I'd think the person trying to lose weight would want to OWN it! "It's MINE, I'm losing weight, MY WEIGHT!" more than anything else. Anyone know? Is the definite article "the" some sort of Jenny Craig psychogical tactic for these people?