Article October 4, 2004 Issue

YOU ARE not WHAT YOU EAT

By Cynthia Neely

Obesity has hit epidemic proportions in the United States and in other countries where the demand for junk food has been growing—and it's become a major health problem. Doctors now say obesity is the cause of a variety of serious illnesses. Surrounded by cheap, easily available fast food and prepared, packaged products, many of us have become addicted to eating unhealthy foods—or simply to eating too much, according to media reports.

Overeaters admit they often use food to compensate for feelings of loneliness or low self-esteem. But this out-of-control syndrome only feeds hopelessness and depression in those who feel trapped in debilitating eating disorders. Not only adults, but an ever-increasing number of children, are becoming obese at younger and younger ages. Without adults to teach and enforce good dietary habits, children are consuming greater amounts of junk food while often exercising less and less. And their health is showing the results.

In the past, eating was a way to satisfy hunger and to share a social occasion with friends and family. But today, social events frequently become binge-eating events. Many restaurants offer buffets of "all you can eat" specials and oversized plates of food. And fast food has become the norm for many of us at mealtimes. Schools serve french fries, pizza, and sugary soft drinks at lunch in their cafeterias, although school districts are now beginning to replace those items with more nutritious foods.