I’m writing in response to the article about the high percentage of overweight adults in San Mateo County (“Fat fighters pushing preventative programs,” July 16). In our culture, there is a lack of understanding about the issue and the approach needed to solve the problem.

Most of us become overweight, diet, gain the weight back (and sometimes more) and then continue this pattern — frustrated, but maintaining the belief that deprivation and self-control are the keys to eventual success. However, the reason most adults are overweight and continue to be so is neither a lack of willpower nor a lack of understanding the basics of nutrition and exercise.

People overeat out of emotional need. Food is used to self-soothe and cope with stress. Instead of eating out of emotional need, we first need to learn how to discern between our physical hunger and emotional hunger, and then eat (at least most of the time) only when physically hungry. We need to learn to take care of our emotional needs without using food.

Until we, as a culture, can embrace this approach and stop relying on the diet industry, we will continue to be a society of overweight adults, eating out of emotional need, risking our health and not giving ourselves what we truly crave: Our own self-care and happiness.

This story continues below
Advertisement

Elizabeth Eastman

Palo Alto

HOT lanes for public transit

I was delighted to read that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is considering adding a high-occupancy toll lane along U.S. Highway 101 in San Mateo County (“Freeway could become toll way,” July 18).

Many environmentalists support such lanes with important caveats. First, the lane should be a conversion from either a mixed-use lane or an existing carpool lane, and the revenue should go to support public transit in the corridor where it is placed.

Considering that one of the most popular Samtrans bus lines, the KX, and other express buses already use Highway 101, transit would profit in two important ways. First, the revenue from motorists would improve service. Second, the HOT lane would provide what Robert Poole, the expert quoted in your article, calls a “virtual bus way” to speed up service.

However, unlike other HOT lane applications, carpoolers would profit as well since no carpool lane exists north of Redwood City in San Mateo County.

Irvin Dawid

Sierra Club Transportation

Committee, Loma Prieta Chapter

Palo Alto

Ocean Beach remote patrol

As (ex?) neighbors in the outer Sunset, Ken Garcia and I both know something firsthand about Ocean Beach (“Ocean Beach under the eye of on-the-go lifeguards,” July 17).

I dislike the beach patrols. Those SUVs have been known to run over people in the sand. I had a friend whose skull was crushed and died in Florida this way. Besides, we come to the beach to get away from vehicles.

They could keep an eye on the entire beach with some kind of modern panoramic camera/telescope/emergency phone number surveillance response setup (with omnipresent signs) above Kirby Cove or somewhere atop the Cliff House complex, then dispatch someone in case of trouble. But that would be too simple for the Feds, and not obtrusive enough.

The beach could be further improved by more trash cans, lots of bathrooms, shower facilities — both for surfers and the occasional swimmers and waders, and also for use by the homeless — maybe a small concession cart or two and some other fun things in memory of the lost glory days of Playland.

Whatever they do, let’s keep the fog. It keeps the crowds down.

Barry S. Eisenberg

San Francisco

Obama needs thicker skin

Not a day goes by when I do not see unfavorable cartoon pictures of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. John McCain, Karl Rove, Condoleezza Rice or a host of other public officials. These people are always portrayed in an unflattering manner.

Why all of the protesting over one picture of Sen. Barack Obama? He is in public life. Publicity comes with the territory.

President Truman said: “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”

Perhaps Sen. Obama is not ready for high office.

Keith De Filippis

San Jose

Set up talks in New York

Here’s a wild and crazy idea: Sen. Barack Obama wants direct talks with Iran. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is going to New York in September for a U.N. meeting.

Why don’t they take this opportunity to sit down together and solve some of the world’s problems?

OK, maybe that’s not so easy. But they could make a start, and the photo op would get that controversial New Yorker cover out of the news.

Dan Clarke

San Francisco

To add your voice

Examiner gives preference to letters containing fewer than 150 words. Please include name, phone number and city of residence.

By e-mail:

letters@examiner.com

By mail:

Editorial Page Editor

The Examiner, 450 Mission St.

San Francisco, CA 94105

By Fax:

(415) 359-2766