The challenge to eat the right amount is part of the human condition. Marion Nestle notes "Dieting to lose weight is as old as recorded history. Hippocrates discussed diets and dieting in the pre-Chtristian era, and today's diet books are perennial bestsellers." (p.42 of Eat Drink Vote).
As the environment has shifted from one of scarcity to "eat more," human physiology and personal responsibility have faced a tough challenge. We'll focus on "eating better" in future posts but for now we note that dieting is as old as we are and it is not getting any easier.