Why are people fat?

I see a lot of speculation and research on why people are fat--everything from fast food, to TV, to women returning to the workforce in the 1970s, to antibiotics in childhood, to genetics. So when I look at pictures of paintings from the 17th century, or photos of my family reunions in the 1920s, and no one had fast food, everyone had physical work, there was no modified or processed food and they look just as overweight in middle age as today, I do wonder what the researchers are missing. Frick Hals portrait

The new polyester pants suit

I remember when my mother's generation (they were college age in the early 1930s) discovered the pastel polyester pants suit in the late 60s and early 70s. I'd seen her age group in slacks only in the garden--and here they were blooming like a bed of bright flowers. They could finally get in and out of the car gracefully (remember skirts were extremely short back then--not great for chubby or vein lined legs) and accommodate an expanding waistline. Yes, the rising of the mini-skirt put millions of older women into pants suits. I eventually succumbed and bought some myself--pale green, bright fuchsia, and yellow polka-dot. Oh, I felt quite smart--and comfortable.

Now it's khaki Capris, low sling-back sandals with a tiny heel, and fashion T's with just a little decollete to tease. The new polyester pants suit for the working Mom in her 40s-50s. I see so many women dressed like this at Panera's where they stop by for coffee and bagels to take into the office, that it makes me wonder if they called each other first and asked, "Whacha wearing today?"

On October 1, WSJ reported [paraphrased here]:

After years of fashion shows inspired by homeless people and biker chicks [Dior] promises to focus on grown-ups--prim, pricey and sophisticated.

I won't hold my breath for Columbus' Capri-wearing Mamas.