In his book "How We Eat: Appetite, Culture and the Psychology of Food," Leon Rappoport of Kansas State University finds that the food and drink we choose reflects our social class, comparing preference for Martini to a Rum & Coke. Surely he can't be referring to Bundaberg Rum. I mean, I can understand Bacardi perhaps but not Bundaberg. Still he is from the US they have funny new fangled tastes over there.

Anyway, culture shock aside, he makes an interesting observation on how our view of a desirable body shape has changed over time. He says

As societies change, the foods that people eat and the body images they associate with status also evolve. ... in the 19th century, the working class typically performed physical labor, so the function of food was to fuel the body. Thus, a body we would now consider overweight was considered desirable because it was associated with prosperity, success and the sedentary lifestyle of the upper class.

I've got the overweight, how do I get the success and the sedentary lifestyle of the upperclass?