ABC News has an interesting report on the growing field of evolutionary psychology, particularly how the evolutionary process has contributed to the current American obesity problem. Essentially, Dan Fessler, the main researcher quoted in the piece, argues that we evolved to crave the taste of fat and salt since those were more rare during teh earlier days of human life. However, now that there is an abundance of foods with these elements, our cravings sabotage our health.

The mechanism that created our fear of snakes also left us with cravings that help explain why so many folks are just too fat, experts say.

It’s all in our genes, and the lives our ancestors lived a relatively few generations ago. In fact, if they had not had many of the same cravings we have today, we might not be here at all. But some of those old traits are coming back to haunt us.

It is definitely an interesting take on obesity, and genes certainly are some sort of contribution to the problem, but there are two key elements that were left out of the story. First, although obesity is beginning to be a bigger problem in other countries, modern American culture generally supports a sedentary lifestyle. Second, human also evolved to think critically and make decisions that can help us remain healthy. Our genes may make us crave unhealthy foods, but our brains allow us the opportunity to say no.

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Obesity Evolutionary Psychology (4/12/2007)

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 11 Apr 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.