January 2004 | Monitor on Psychology

On the Cover: Battling obesity

• What's to blame for the surge in super-size Americans?

  It's no one thing, but researchers increasingly point to an alarming, potentially deadly, combination of fast-food culture and biological susceptibility.

• Family-size portions for one

  The amount we eat is easily manipulated by increasing package sizes, researchers find.

• Bringing more effective tools to the weight-loss table

  Psychologists help Americans slim down through self-monitoring, augmented behavioral therapies and meditation, among other strategies.

• Teaming up to drop pounds

  In the short run, group treatment proves effective and economical in combating obesity. But what about the long run?

• Weighing in on fat bias

  Many therapists and health professionals hold hidden biases toward their obese patients, studies find.