Kristine-

Our society does suck! I just gave a lecture in my phys anthro class on secular change-short term plastic changes in humans that are mainly due to environment. One of the changes I talked about was the increase in obesity especially in children and the accompanying decrease in age of the first menses in girls.

From 1981-1986 the number of over weight boys in Canada (and I am sure the same holds for the US) went from 15-28.8%. The number of over weight girls went from 15-23%. Scary isn't it? That much change in just 5 years. I am sure it is even worse now. In addition, the age of menarche has dropped due to getting to the necessary body fat % to have menses earlier and earlier. Females have to have 17% bf to get their periods. We are getting to that 17% at such a young age these days.

As one of my bosses at a local community college said-"When they came out with the food pyramid, we all started looking like the pyramid."