On a related note...

I work in a bookshop. That means that now I appear to be able to predict the coming trends in cultural movements before most people realise them since I see the books that fly off our shelves every day.. The sad fact is that as a result I also notice how we are sheep. Whilst on the one hand I see the new phenomenon 'Eats, Shoots & Leaves' selling 25 thousand copies in a week, I also notice how it goes on to sell over 225 thousand since the publisher calls a reprint. We have received over 250 Atkins diet books over the last few days for the planned rush of dieting that will occur immediately following Christmas. All these people follow the crowd - why not start a diet before christmas and look great during it, then return to your NORMAL size from the gluttonous food you've consumed.

Trendsetter's Top 10 Trends for 2003
1. Overweight
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion people worldwide are overweight, 300 million of them obese. Part of the problem lies with our caloric intake, which, according to The New York Times, has risen by more than 10% since 1977. The worldwide export of the U.S.’ super-sized, fast-food culture is affecting weight from Ireland, where 13% of the population is now overweight, to France, where 5 million French are. The trend does present opportunities. Mexico’s Freedom Paradise bills itself as the world's first “size friendly” vacation club, with 37-inch doorways and seats in the showers.