Quotes of the Day
COVER
CRITICAL CONDITION
AMERICA'S OBESITY CRISIS
A tour of any mall or beach offers proof: two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and half are obese. What can be done? 57
THE PROBLEM
EVOLVING TOWARD FAT: The ultimate reason for obesity may lie with ancestors who ate Atkins-like diets but lived like marathoners 58
WHY WE EAT: By hardwiring us to eat for social, biological and psychological reasons, nature stacks the deck against weight loss 72
THE SOLUTIONS
FAT FIGHTERS: Experts battle the powerful forces that propel Americans to eat too much and move too little 78
THE SKINNY PILL: Pharmaceutical companies are chasing drugs that prevent or reduce weight gain 90
SPRAWLING PROBLEM: In a nation of car addicts, communities are studying how to make their towns more pedestrian friendly 92
ON THE MENU: Chain restaurant Ruby Tuesday lists nutritional data on menus — like it or not 99
TALKING TO KIDS: Six tips can help parents deal with the tricky issue of overweight children 103
SUCCESSFUL LOSERS: These people took — and kept — the weight off. How did they do it? 107
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: The government shouldn't interfere with what you eat. Yes, it should 113
LETTERS 9
10 QUESTIONS FOR RUSH LIMBAUGH 17
NOTEBOOK: Saddam's pistol in the Oval Office; is Bush cooling on Ashcroft? 19
IN THE ARENA: Joe Klein on why Bush and Kerry are not connecting with voters on Iraq 27
WORLD
THE MAN WITH A PLAN: How U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi goes about the tough job of brokering a new Iraqi government 30
THE CHALABI FLAP: Inside the secret plan to dump an old ally 36
BUSINESS
HALLIBURTON: Savior or profiteer? A look at the contractor under fire in Iraq and at home 38
NATION
ON GUARD: Behind the government's warning about a possible new attack inside the U.S. 46
THE PRESIDENCY: Hugh Sidey on George H.W. Bush's turning 80 49
SOCIETY
BIBLES BEHIND BARS: A look at the nation's first faith-based prison 50
(LI'L) MISS MANNERS: Etiquette for the kids' table 55
NEWS
TOO PUMPED? A steroid scandal trips up U.S. track-and-field stars 52
ARTS
MUSIC: The songs you'll be humming this summer 114
ART: A blockbuster exhibit rethinks boho star Modigliani 119
BOOKS: Mysteries go global 121
YOUR TIME
STYLE: Furniture gets back to nature; dressing for Athens 133
HEALTH: How saying "I do" helps your heart; aspirin and cancer 134
MONEY: The million-dollar woman's guide; the car that's a real steal 137
PEOPLE: America's new Idol; Phish goes belly-up 139
ESSAY: Walter Kirn on the costly but irresistible summer drive 140
COVER: Photograph by Getty Images