Historical reflections on diet, exercise, and obesity: the recurring need to "put words into action"

According to a 2010 announcement by the Centers for Disease Control, more than one third of adults and nearly 20% of children in the United States are obese. Obesity and its attendant health issues are becoming a global problem. In spite of the fact that a monumental number of articles in important scientific and clinical journals now support what Plato and others have been setting forth for more than 2,000 years regarding proper diet and adequate exercise, far too little is being done to "put words into action." This article offers an overview of both lesser known and more familiar works that have addressed this issue.