Table of Contents: Jun. 7, 2004

COVER

CRITICAL CONDITION

AMERICA'S OBESITY CRISIS

A tour of any mall or beach offers proof: two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and half are obese. What can be done? 57

THE PROBLEM

EVOLVING TOWARD FAT: The ultimate reason for obesity may lie with ancestors who ate Atkins-like diets but lived like marathoners 58

WHY WE EAT: By hardwiring us to eat for social, biological and psychological reasons, nature stacks the deck against weight loss 72

THE SOLUTIONS

FAT FIGHTERS: Experts battle the powerful forces that propel Americans to eat too much and move too little 78

THE SKINNY PILL: Pharmaceutical companies are chasing drugs that prevent or reduce weight gain 90

SPRAWLING PROBLEM: In a nation of car addicts, communities are studying how to make their towns more pedestrian friendly 92

ON THE MENU: Chain restaurant Ruby Tuesday lists nutritional data on menus--like it or not 99

TALKING TO KIDS: Six tips can help parents deal with the tricky issue of overweight children 103

SUCCESSFUL LOSERS: These people took--and kept--the weight off. How did they do it? 107

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: The government shouldn't interfere with what you eat. Yes, it should 113

LETTERS 9

10 QUESTIONS FOR RUSH LIMBAUGH 17

NOTEBOOK: Saddam's pistol in the Oval Office; is Bush cooling on Ashcroft? 19

IN THE ARENA: Joe Klein on why Bush and Kerry are not connecting with voters on Iraq 27

WORLD

THE MAN WITH A PLAN: How U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi goes about the tough job of brokering a new Iraqi government 30

THE CHALABI FLAP: Inside the secret plan to dump an old ally 36

BUSINESS

HALLIBURTON: Savior or profiteer? A look at the contractor under fire in Iraq and at home 38

NATION

ON GUARD: Behind the government's warning about a possible new attack inside the U.S. 46

THE PRESIDENCY: Hugh Sidey on George H.W. Bush's turning 80 49

SOCIETY

BIBLES BEHIND BARS: A look at the nation's first faith-based prison 50

(LI'L) MISS MANNERS: Etiquette for the kids' table 55

NEWS

TOO PUMPED? A steroid scandal trips up U.S. track-and-field stars 52

ARTS

MUSIC: The songs you'll be humming this summer 114

ART: A blockbuster exhibit rethinks boho star Modigliani 119

BOOKS: Mysteries go global 121

YOUR TIME

STYLE: Furniture gets back to nature; dressing for Athens 133

HEALTH: How saying "I do" helps your heart; aspirin and cancer 134

MONEY: The million-dollar woman's guide; the car that's a real steal 137

PEOPLE: America's new Idol; Phish goes belly-up 139

ESSAY: Walter Kirn on the costly but irresistible summer drive 140

COVER: Photograph by Getty Images