Sharon Flesher wrote {at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LessIsMore/message/13652 after signing-in} :- ... That said, I still find it troubling and not natural that obesity is increasing so rapidly. I do think this is a legitimate public health issue and not simply a matter of learning to accept people as they are. At 04:22 2004-01-23 -0800, Mark/gomey1917, NC, wrote, in "Re: Obesity / was D.M's latest 4+ posts to PF." {at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LessIsMore/message/13668 }: Hi Sharon, I agree with many of the points you make. When analyzing this problem one size doesn't fit all (no pun intended). Some people are obese because they over eat, but some are over weight that don't over eat. A segment of our population have always had and will always have genetic/metabolic problems with weight. That being said the explosion of obesity we see in our society is not the result of a bizarre genetic mutation that is causing us to gain weight, but instead a by product of our over consuming culture, and desperately unhappy lives. People over eat because they can and because it makes them feel better. People need to feel better because they have empty lives and incredible pressure. Pressure because of work, no work, debt, no free time, physical or verbally abusive spouses, and generally unrewarding pointless lives. The battle against obesity and other eating disorders must be waged not just against the victims and fast food chains but against the very culture that promotes consumption as an end to itself. A culture that encourages woman to be dangerously thin, while at the same time telling everyone to consume and then consume some more. People no longer have the time to go for walks, garden, wash dishes without a dishwasher, bike ride etc., and if they do have a spare few hours per week, running for an exhausting 5 miles isn't tops on the list of fun things to with these few free hours. IMHO the obesity crisis will only be solved when we take back or lives and our bodies. Sometimes I think to the government and rich that we are all only here to eat crap and buy crap to make a few people very rich. Just a bunch of pawns. My dogs looking at me funny. I'm getting off my soap box now. Mark