1. First and foremost is the fact that today's consumers have
gotten the health message. The "new" health message is that
calories count so much that too much food is unhealthy, even if the food
being eaten or served is nutritious.
2. Second, more women feel that their weight problems are being
recognized as difficult to solve. Doctors may be clueless about how to
lose weight, but they are wishing their patients good luck and asking
them to let them know if anything seems to work for them.
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3. Third, news about fat lawsuits has made many realize that
industry, medicine, and government are taking this seriously. This news
has two offshoots: One is the connection to tobacco lawsuits and the
idea that whether or not the suits are frivolous, the health issues of
being overweight are serious. The second is the blame game in which
consumers recognize that they have to accept part of the blame and that
lawsuits are not going to do anything to help them with their own weight
problem.
4. Women acknowledge that they eat and choose food emotionally.
Media acknowledgement of the emotional basis of eating and nurturing has
been very helpful to many women. Women like to be understood, and being
recognized for eating, fixing and serving fattening foods to get them
through stressful, anxious, angry, and other seriously difficult times
validates their struggle.
5. Fifth, thanks to widespread media coverage showcased by Oprah
and Dr. Phil, weight and weight loss have become part of the
entertainment content instead of what happens as a result of sitting and
watching TV.
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NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.