This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Ages ago, when our progenitors fought and foraged for survival, the body knew that getting fed on a regular basis was a long shot. So it stored sustenance to ensure survival. Odds are, obesity was not a problem. Today, food is in the freezer, cars are in the driveway, and the school bus is at the corner.
Meals are fast, games are electronic, and comfort is key.
But the body's mechanism for storing fat has not gone away, and many people in this country are dangerously overweight. It was very rare. Now, in the last decade, we are seeing it in children. The youngest reported child is 4 years old. These children, experts say, generally are very heavy, lead sedentary lives, and usually have at least one overweight parent with the disease.