I was fascinated by this article on how food has "evolved" to make it so much more difficult to control overeating. The person interviewed has just published a book called The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, and I would like to get a copy of it because it seems to delve into elements of human psychology that I personally find fascinating. How do food manufacturers make us want to eat more, even when we are full? What is the psychology (and perhaps even physiology) of hunger?

"This is not a diet book, but Dr. Kessler devotes a sizable section to “food rehab,” offering practical advice for using the science of overeating to our advantage, so that we begin to think differently about food and take back control of our eating habits.

"One of his main messages is that overeating is not due to an absence of willpower, but a biological challenge made more difficult by the overstimulating food environment that surrounds us. 'Conditioned hypereating' is a chronic problem that is made worse by dieting [emphasis mine] and needs to be managed rather than cured, he said. And while lapses are inevitable, Dr. Kessler outlines several strategies that address the behavioral, cognitive and nutritional factors that fuel overeating.

"Planned and structured eating and understanding your personal food triggers are essential. In addition, educating yourself about food can help alter your perceptions about what types of food are desirable. Just as many of us now find cigarettes repulsive, Dr. Kessler argues that we can also undergo similar perceptual shifts” about large portion sizes and processed foods. For instance, he notes that when people who once loved to eat steak become vegetarians, they typically begin to view animal protein as disgusting.

The article also has the most wonderful description of a Snickers bar, which, of course, has made me want to go out and get one. Evil!