Editorial October 7, 2002 Issue

Food for thought

Editor

Why would somebody pray about what they eat? There are many reasons. And recent discussions of food and its effects only serve to heighten the need for prayer.

In past weeks experts have been found wrangling over the relative merits of reducing our intake of carbohydrates vs. fat vs. calories. The propensity of Americans to "supersize" their meals, and consequently their waistlines, is a hot topic, as is the possible culpability of the fast-food and beverage industries in addicting schoolchildren to their highcalorie products. Warnings have become increasingly alarming about a growing public lethargy that promotes obesity.

These problems need attention. TIME magazine says that "as a society we are clearly in a state of nutritional crisis and in need of radical remedies" (Sept. 2, p.49). Much research has gone into finding out why some people can't avoid gaining weight while others who eat similar diets stay slim. Increasingly, their answers point to genetic/hormonal factors, which they say influence the way the body regulates appetite and digestion.

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