There are many theories as to why two thirds of the population in the United States is either overweight or obese. Many people believe that those who are overweight or obese simply gorge themselves on large quantities of food. While there may be some truth to this, I believe the quality of the food that we eat in this country today is more of a factor in obesity than the quantity of the food we eat.

As human beings evolved through millennia they were used to periods of starvation and abundance. During the periods of abundance humans would eat sufficient amounts that would carry them through the periods when there was insufficient food supply. Our bodies are still not that far removed from our ancestors with respect to privation and abundance.

However, in the 1950s and 60s there was still an abundance of food in this country and yet the incidence of overweight and obese individuals in this country was not even a significant health issue. So what has changed in the past 50-60 years that has caused so many Americans to gain weight at such an alarming proportion? I believe it has to do with the way food is prepared commercially in this country today.

For millennia and up until the 1950s and 60s, families cooked their own food for their own family dinners. Generally, the food was healthier because it was not filled with additives and high amounts of calories and fat in order to make it have a longer shelf life. The food was prepared and eaten the same day. There may be leftovers the next night but after that food would spoil so it was discarded.

Today, way too many Americans have no control over their diet because they have essentially handed over control of their meal planning to the commercial fast food restaurants in this country. Tragically, many of the fast food restaurants serve food that is really unhealthy to eat on a regular basis. Yet, with the fast pace of life today large numbers of people eat many if not most of their meals out at the fast food restaurants.

In part two we will learn more about what we need to do as Americans to reverse the trend of the high incidence of obesity in this country and return to a healthier way of eating.

In part one we discussed the basic evolutionary process of human overeating.

Because the caloric, fat, salt and sugar content of the menus at many of the commercial restaurants is so extreme, eating what would seem like a normal serving of food contains a higher amount of calories than would be found in that same portion of food cooked at home. People may seem to think that they are eating the same amount of food they would normally but with such high calorie content it’s basically like eating a meal and a half.

Additionally, fast food restaurants serve food to make a profit. Corporations run these restaurants whose only concern is the financial bottom line. They really do not care about the health of the patrons who eat their food. In fact, like the cigarette companies of the past, they reject that there is anything wrong with the product that they sell. However, there is ample evidence that fast food is one of the major factors in the obesity problem in this country.

People actually become addicted to fast food like they become addicted to certain drugs. There are so many additives in fast food, which is considered a trade secret, that it’s really almost impossible to determine what goes into a specific meal. Only recently have laws been passed that require certain fast food restaurants to post the calorie and fat content of their foods someplace where their patrons can see this information.

The only way we as a country are going to reverse this terrible scourge of obesity is if we hearken back to the day when food was purchased and prepared at home by families who really cared about the health of those they were feeding. There is simply no way to change the corporate culture in this country that demands profits as a gauge to success. Regardless of how many lives are destroyed by the medical complications related to obesity, the corporate culture of the fast food industry would simply not accept that they are part of the problem.

Finally, not that much has changed in the past 40 years in terms of the evolution of the human body and its response to food. The only thing that has changed is that there is now a fast food restaurant on just about every corner in every city across this great land. For this country to get healthy it must reject a diet based on fast food and get back to the basics of eating a healthy well-balanced nutritious diet that is cooked at home by loving hands.

Nicole saw her weight jump 60 pounds following her separation from her husband. A portion of the weight gain connected to the medicine that she was taking, but most of it comes from what is called emotional eating. Currently, there has been an increased focus on the issue of emotional eating. As a matter of fact, many specialists state that most weight gain is a result of emotional eating in both men and women. In fact, Women Today magazine has estimated that as much as 75 percent of overeating is linked to emotions.

For many people, overeating is rooted in anxiety. For example, if you find yourself eating an entire container of cookies, it is possible that anxiety has something to do with it. Most people see the dangers in using alcohol and drugs as outlets for anxiety, but do not understand that using food in order to fight anxiety can be harmful as well.

In some instances, overeating may be a sign of depression. If you feel fatigued, hopeless, and have lost interest in activities that you normally enjoy, you may be suffering from depression. Many people may turn to food in order to help themselves cheer up when going through a depressive episode. Overindulging in food can lead to weight gain, which may cause the individual to feel worse about themselves.

In some cases, overeating may simply be a sign of boredom. Sometimes, when there is nothing else to do, an individual may conclude that they may as well eat. This seems to happen mostly when people are watching television or perusing the internet. As opposed to overeating, one can pick up a new activity to indulge in, in order to alleviate their boredom.

Determining whether or not you’re an emotional eater can be quite challenging. Here are some key questions for you to ask yourself to determine this: Do I eat when I’m scared, worried, or sad. Does eating improve my mood? Does eating keep me from participating in activities that I enjoy? Do I go on a binge following some sort of disappointment? Have I turned to eating in order to deal with a death in the family or a failed marriage? If you answer yes to any of the questions above, then you may be overeating due to emotional reasons.

Once you have determined that you are an emotional eater, you need o begin developing new habits in order to change your behavior. The most effective means to combat overeating may simply be to find something else to do. If you have just gone through a life altering event such as losing a loved one, engage in a new physical activity such as kickboxing, running, or dancing to deal with the emotional trauma. You could even do something more sedentary such as painting or crochet. Once you get into the habit of being active, you will find that your desire to overeat begins to go away.

You can also take steps to figure out exactly what it is that causes you to eat for emotional reasons. What time of day do you typically binge? Do you snack while watching television or working at the computer? By identifying what situations lead you to overeat, you can switch your behavioral patterns and walk a healthier path.

It may also be helpful to develop a network of support to help you battle overeating. Your supporters can include your significant other, kids, parents, friends, as well as other overeaters. There are also groups that specialize in assisting binge eaters that you could join. If you feel the urge to overeat, get in touch with someone in your support group. Discussing your emotions could give you the emotional escape that you require, nullifying the urge to overeat.

If you battles with anxiety or depression continue, look into visiting with a psychotherapist. They can assist you in creating a healthier coping mechanism. If the subject is too personal for you and you do not want to talk to friends or relatives about your problem, a psychotherapist can serve you with the conversational therapy you may need to defeat your issue.