Mother Nature doesn't diet

"Genes Take Charge, and Diets Fall By The Wayside" by Gina Kolata, is the kind of article that wails beautifully into the prevailing foul winds of "obesity epidemic" and "childhood obesity crisis."

Scientists know that dieting doesn't work. If you think about it, you know it, too. How many people do you know that have used food to manipulate their appearance (dieted) successfully? By success I mean: did they maintain that "goal" weight from then on and remain mentally and physically healthy? Can't think of any? Neither can I.

Dieting leads to ill health, ill temper, an erratic and unhealthy relationship with food, and - ironically - an insatiable appetite and bingeing. For those with the genes for it, dieting triggers life-threatening mental illness.

It is okay to be the shape, the color, and the personality that your genes custom-designed for you. Actually, it isn't just okay, its fantastic.