Primary care docs can help patients with overeating problems

The author of a New York Times bestselling book believes primary care doctors can play a critical role in helping patients recognize and modify their dietary behavior.

"It's not a matter of willpower," says David Kessler, MD, author of The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite. "We've not given our patients the tools, because we've not understood what is driving this behavior."

The book, which hit the Times' top 10 list in May, is an indictment of the industrial chefs and marketers who engineer and sell foods scientifically layered with fat, salt, and sugar. These endlessly available, "hyperpalatable," high-calorie foods leave the chronic overeater wanting more and more, says Kessler.