Yes, it is interesting to compare the two. I think a lot of the problem has to do with how "healthy" and "hot" are portrayed in the media. Please don't think I just blame the media either, I still think individual responsibility is key, but media does have a big psychological effect. I mean, it is pretty pitiful when magazines and films and so on promote diets that are horrible and can't possibly be sustained as producing that new "hot look" that so and so has. Honestly, for years one of the biggest examples of this media portrayal was Oprah Winfrey. It was only after years of yo-yo weight loss and gain that she finally realized the insanity of it all and came to the conclusion that if she just ate right and exercised to her ability that she was simply the size she is now and could finally stop the cycle - which btw I do not find her fat now at all but I always thought she looked ridiculous when she would lose drastic amounts of weight.

It is curious that more people would not think about tailoring their nutritional needs but it makes sense that when they get bombarded with a message regardless of whether ti is correct or incorrect that they adopt it as reality. That is the psychology major in me speaking - the media effect is real and it is powerful.