Columbus is one fat city, one of the fattest in America, if a ranking in Men's Fitness magazine a few months ago is to be believed. Epidemic is the appropriate word, Alda tells us, because obesity is responsible for more health problems than smoking. But the program can't avoid treating obesity as a reason for shame. In the opening scene, clips of tubby people walking down crowded city streets are digitally altered to obscure their faces. But, as the show points out, being overweight isn't easily overcome.
People form habits that lead to obesity in childhood.
Half of all adults in the two tribes suffer obesity-related diabetes, the world's highest rate. But only 50 years ago, before switching to a typical fatty American diet and lifestyle, no one in the tribes suffered from diabetes. Photographs from the 1940s show a startling difference. The tribe members five decades ago were vigorous, wiry people. Their children and grandchildren are sluggish and portly.