Surgeon General as Appetite Suppressant

The United States Surgeon General has a new approach to the obesity epidemic specially for Thanksgiving. As reported in today's Chicago Sun Times, he suggests you discuss Uncle Frank's colon cancer at the dinner table:

It's not just Thanksgiving today.
U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona is declaring today also is the first annual National Family History Day.
As extended families gather today, it's a perfect time to compile medical histories, Carmona said. Show it to your doctor and keep a copy for your records, updating when necessary.
{snip}
In the future, genetic tests likely will pinpoint your risk for common diseases, but in the meantime, the best predictive tool is a family history. However, doctors often don't have time to ask about family histories, and even when they do, patients often are vague on the details.
{snip}
In the future, genetic tests likely will pinpoint your risk for common diseases, but in the meantime, the best predictive tool is a family history. However, doctors often don't have time to ask about family histories, and even when they do, patients often are vague on the details.
{snip}
You can't change your genes, of course. But if your family history indicates you are susceptible to a given disease, you can take steps to prevent it, or at least detect it early with screening tests such as mammograms and colonoscopies.

Lovely. Last time I checked, none of the "steps to prevent it" actually prevented any disease. If you are lucky maybe they will prevent an earlier death or decrease or disability. Or maybe they'll just increase the length of your illness by telling you about it sooner and you'll die at the same time anyway (the evidence for the efficacy of many screening tests is questionable; for some of the difficulties involved, see here, here and here).

We know that many diseases are truly preventable by removing their causes. To the extent that those causes are environmental or occupational the "fixes" lie in political action. In the meantime, my advice is to relax with your family and friends, enjoy the day and worry about your weight some other time. Yes, obesity is a problem in this country. But holidays and family gatherings are special and come infrequently. Tomorrow you can return to a proper diet (which in my lexicon, means "everything in moderation").