Foreword
Although the United States is the most powerful nation on earth, the
one area in which this country does not excel is health. And the fu-
ture is not bright. Almost a third of our young children are obese,
and many do not exercise. No matter how much information be-
comes available about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle and a diet
heavily dependent on processed foods, we don't change our ways.
Ideally, Americans should be able to translate financial well-being
into habits that lead to longer and better lives, untroubled by expen-
sive and chronic medical illnesses. Yet, in the United States, as well
as Western Europe, Russia, and many other affluent countries, the
majority of adults are overweight and undernourished. While high-
quality nutrition is readily available throughout the United States,
the American public, rich and poor, is drawn to eating unhealthy
food. Indeed, the list of top calorie sources for Americans includes
many items I do not consider "real" foods, including milk, cola, mar-
garine, white bread, sugar, and pasteurized processed American
cheese.
Though smoking has received a lot of attention for the dangers it
poses to public health, and cigarettes have been heavily lobbied
against, obesity is a more important predictor of chronic ailments
and quality of life than any other public scourge. In a recent survey
of 9,500 Americans, 36 percent were overweight and 23 percent
were obese, yet only 19 percent were daily smokers and 6 percent
heavy drinkers. Several reasons for this epidemic of obesity in mod-