Is it really true, we are what we eat? Consider this. One-quarter of Canadians who were overweight in 1994-95 had become obese by 2002-03; only 10% had returned to a healthy weight. The situation among children is not better. In 2004, 18% of children aged 2 to 17 were overweight and 8% were obese. Childhood obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes; one in three children born since 2000 will likely develop diabetes.

To mark nutrition month, each week through March we'll be publishing new stories about CIHR-supported research on how what we eat affects our health.

• Week 1 - Can a teenager's diet affect her risk of breast cancer later in life?
• Week 2 - Snacking the pounds away?
• Week 3 - Proteins - Can you get too much of a good thing?
• Week 4 - What television can tell us about childhood obesity