The geography of fat

Seattle Times: The current issue of National Geographic magazine wonders of today's society, "Why are we so fat?"
The answer is about the relationship between calories consumed and energy spent. But here's another answer: We are fat because we are deluged with eye-grabbing ads for nutritionally bereft, high-caloric foods. Many of these ads target children and helped create the poor eating habits that have increased the number of overweight and obese children.
National Geographic's younger sibling, National Geographic Kids, could be Exhibit A. The magazine is chock full of fun scientific and environmental facts. It is also stuffed with ads for sugary cereals and candies.
Cupcakes
The Center for Science in the Public Interest surveyed 17 issues of National Geographic Kids and found 51 ads for snacks such as Hostess cupcakes, cereals such as Froot Loops, Kellogg's Smorz and Frosted Flakes, and the all-time best example of empty calories, Twinkies. The magazine's May issue even arrived wrapped in an ad for a hamburger chain.
Don't get hungry. Get real about the threatening epidemic of obesity in children. Many of these children will suffer from the effects of under-nutrition leading to long-term medical and social consequences.