Does fat breed fat? Or do cho colate eclairs and potato chips make the difference? For years scientists have debated the cause of obesity, some saying it is here ditary and others claiming it is caused by environmental factors such as poor diet and lack of exer cise. A recent study over several years in Denmark strongly sup ports the theory that obesity has its roots in the genes. However, at this point we cannot ignore other studies showing that obesity is influenced to some degree by social and economic conditions. Danish researchers traced near ly S.SOO adoptees and their biolog ical and adoptive parents. They computed body mass indexes, measuring fat in all the children and both sets of parents. The promising signs OF PROSPERITY. ©l9BB Agway Inc Heard? By Doris Thomas Lancaster Extension Home Economist researchers found a clear relation ship between the fatness of the adoptees and their biological parents even though most of the children had little or no contact with their natural parents. The results also showed no relation ship between obesity in adoptive parents and their adopted children, leading the researchers to con clude that body fat is controlled exclusively by heredity. This study strongly supports the idea that we should focus our weight-control efforts on people at risk of becoming obese, rather than on the entire population. It is fairly easy to identify those at risk since 80 percent of the children of normal-weight parents are over wieght However, other research with laboratory animals and people '/ ' i ' For better standability and higher yic ds. Not every seed com can stand the test of our tough grow ing season. But Agway 596 s and 788 X can because they’re bred specifically for the soil, climate and growing conditions in this region So when you see these Agway signs, you know you’re looking at the promise of excellent standability and outstand ing yield potential For a prosperous 1989 season, ask your Agway Farm Enter prise Salesperson for the facts on these proven hybrids. Working for people who work the lands.. (mww) Agway Farm Enterprise Service show that exercise and diet can influence obesity. The choices we make regarding exercise and foods, as well as our perceptions of socially acceptable body shape, play a part in determining how fat we are going to be. There is no simple solution to preventing or treating obesity, nor can we take that stance that it is all the fault of our genes. Fresh Produce Consumption Booming: The fresh produce sec tion in a typical supermarket is now about twice as big as it was ten years ago. The fresh prdfluce section usually takes up about IS percent of the total store size and often up to 200 items are stocked. Why is this particular section of the supermarket expanding? Response to consumer demand! People are simply eating more fresh fruits and vegetables than ever before. Over the past decade, per capita consumption of fresh produce has risen 12 percent in the United States and consumption of canned foods has dropped about IS percent. If this pattern con tinues in future years, Americans will eat even more fresh produce. Some veggies are getting more popular than others. For example, Americans are eating IS percent more broccoli and the consump tion of cauliflower has risen 130 percent in the last ten years. Other . ■'/ I / big gainers were lettuce, celery, carrots and tomatoes. Lots of factors contribute to our eating changes. The baby-boom generation is getting older and it’s just natural to eat a bigger variety of foods as you age. Society is also becoming more health con scious and the desire to eat light and get lots of vitamins and Fiber tends to draw people to fresh fruits and vegetables. Consumers not only eat more fresh produce at home, they also want it when they eat out, as evidenced by the continued popu larity of salad bars in restaurants. Modem consumers demand quick, low-cost, low-calorie meals and they arc getting what they want. Bulk Foods Growing in Popu larity; According to a report in the latest issue of Family Economics Review by buying foods in bulk the average consumer saves SO percent over the price of pre packaged products. The USDA made a price comparison study of 36 items that can be purchased in either bulk or packaged form. What they found is 93 percent of the time packaged goods were more costly than the same food purchased in bulk form. Six per cent of the time the packaged forms actually cost less than the bulk forms. Of course savings var- 1\ 1 \ Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 11,1989*819 ied grealy according to the parti cular food in question and the brand, type and size it was being compared to. For example, store brand all purpose flour in a ten pound bag costs two percent more than bulk flour and store brand com flakes cost six percent less than com flakes in bulk form. So you see, you really have to watch to make sure you arc gelling the most for your money. As you might expect the largest savings in bulk over packaged food forms were for national brands in small packages. But when bulk foods were com pared with exceptionally large package sizes (say a five pound bag) the bulk form may be more expensive. County Swine The Chester County 4-H Swine Club is seeking new members for 1989. The club meets the third Fri day of each month starting in March and continuing through August at the West Nantmeal Township building. Club mem bers can raise from one to six pigs through the summer. Members are taught how to care for their ani mals plus other basics of livestock care. 4-H members are also taught how to give demonstrations and work together as a team in diffe rent projects. For further information about the 4-H Swine Club, contact Titus Beam at 286-9579 or Nelson Beam at 286-9465. 4-H clubs are open to all Chester County young people ages 8-18, regardless of whether they live on a farm or not. For information about other 4-H projects, contact the 4-H office at 696-3500. j HESS'S j | BUTCHER SHOP j • Custom Butchering • • • Ham Curing • • • Bacon Curing • • • Bologna Made i • 2635 Willow St. Pike • • Willow Street • S Lancaster County : S| 717-464-3374 : give your vegetables wrap around protection AgTac'a routine vacaUMa haad (ivn complete cover Of* with wrap around protection. 190 MPH Mr Strum carrtoa miat-aiza droplata that panotraU and ednf, evan to tha undaraMaa ol toavaa. Without laavlng tha tractor aaat you can rotate tha haad 270* to apray with tha wind and adluat tha daflactor (or awatha up to CO laat, with AfTae low vahima aHidancy you'll raduoa chemical and (ual cotta, and apray more aeraa a day. Tha routine hMd h available on 3 pt hitch and puH-typa Aflac aprayara with PTO-driva. Sm ua today lor a damonatration. Lancastnr County's Only Doslsr SpodaHilnt In Sprayor Salts t Sorvtco LESTER A. SINGER M N. Inks BA, Banks BA 17171 (TIT) MM7U l-tOO-456-5250 Mn.-M.tkS Chester