[randita]

We reduced the fats, like butter and meats, and increased the intake of refined wheat and sugars.

You nailed it. The rise in obesity corresponds with the low-fat craze and the indoctrination of the food pyramid (with its 5 servings of wheat and grains per day). Low fat in processed foods usually means high sugar.

[redangus]

Iused to get a newsletter from an alternative medicine doctor whose nutritional advice centered around the fact that to fatten livestock for slaughter we feed them low fat, grain products and allow them no exercise. As he saw it that was pretty much what we have been recommending for most people. Stuff them with a low fat, high carb diet and then put them in cubicles all day in front of computers and all night in front of TVs. His advice was to live life at the top of the food chain, i.e. a lot of meat, high protein and substantial fat with some complex carbs but in limited amounts, and get active.