Originally Posted by Sion

I think another VERY significant contributor to obesity in humans is the way we eat.

First, most people eat way too fast, which tends to lead to over-eating. I read or heard once that the brain doesn't receive the "I'm full" message from the belly for about 20 minutes after the belly has actually gotten sufficiently full. If you continue to eat during this period, you'll over-eat and then feel "stuffed". (I don't know if there's any scientific merit to this notion, but it does jibe with my own experiences.) The solution to this problem is to slow down and enjoy your meal. You'll eat less and be less likely to feel uncomfortably full.

Another problem is the whole idea of the 3 square meals per day. I got to thinking about this while out deer hunting one time. I was thinking about obesity and wondered why, even in a food-rich environment, you never see wild animals that are fat (hibernating animals such as bear excepted, of course). And it occurred to me that, aside from the fact that most animals get way more exercise than most humans, there is a noticeable difference between how animals and humans eat. Unless they are eating, sleeping or rutting, animals are ALWAYS eating. But they're just grazing. A little here, a little there, usually with some walking (and scanning the area for danger) in between. You almost never see a deer, or other animal, gorge himself the way humans do on a regular basis.

So, if you really want to eat in a healthier way, consider looking to nature for your example. Now granted, deer (the source of inspiration for my thoughts) have different nutritional needs than humans. But there are plenty of animals that are omnivores like we are. Many of the primate species (baboons come to mind) eat both meat and plant matter and would likely serve as an excellent model for the human diet.

When in doubt, look to nature.