If you aren’t in the mood for a big, fat rant — skip this article. If you are (most find my ire humorous), sit back and enjoy. Because “obesogens” have me riled up.

• Popular

The news is packed with headlines aghast at the recent report that Americans waste 40 percent of their food. Many are springing into action to connect food banks and shelters with restaurants, or find creative ways to compost or biofuel the leftovers. I’ve also seen reminders to “eat what you purchased.” Consumers are feeling guilty and to blame.

• Popular

On behalf of all fitness professionals, registered dietitians, nutritionists, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and anyone else in the world who tries day in and day out to motivate, encourage, cajole, threaten, scare, and beg us to get healthy and fit, this one’s for you.

• Popular

If you have ever started a diet or exercise program with the thought, “I’m just going to do it this time,” only to go back to your old habits in days or weeks, you know how fickle willpower can be. You are a strong-willed person. How come you have such great control in other areas of your life but can’t seem to keep your diet under control or make it to the gym on a regular basis?

• Popular

It’s official. I’m old. The MeeMaw train has left the station and I’m riding in first class. I fought the passing birthdays like a champ. I’d shave off a few years when asked my age. I’d try to keep up with ever-changing cultural things — music, hair (luckily I passed through the Flock of Seagulls phase quickly), hip words (cool became rad became sick). I stayed abreast of new technologies — all my cassettes are gone, CDs are a thing of my past, and my TV is flat. But, I’ve finally given up. And the weirdest thing made me throw in the towel: an ad for yoga clothes.

• Popular

Apparently we’ve found a gluttony gene (published online in the journal Nature Medicine). For those that have compulsive needs to eat non-stop, some scientists believe this gene, and its role in signaling fullness, is implicated. A genetic role of the dice could be to blame for our poundage.

• Popular

A weight-loss product has me shaking my fist in the air, again. The bad ones are like cockroaches — a scourge in my plight. Just when I feel like I’ve stomped them all, there’s another. You think I’d tire of these fits, but alas.

One particular problem has plagued me the better part of my life. Just when I think I’ve got it whipped, it creeps back up and nips me good. I mulled my problem the other morning in the aftermath of a difficult day. I sat savoring my hazelnut creamer coffee, wondering what the heck was wrong with me. The coffee steam was comforting. The momentary peacefulness nurtured a thought: lots of people suffer from the same thing. A compulsion to write overcame me — and here goes.

When a purported expert says something incongruent to my common sense, I flip open my laptop and start Googling. Call it a hobby.