HEALTH HORIZONS : <i> LETTER FROM THE EDITOR : </i>

In this, the second issue of our semiannual special section, Health Horizons, Ronald McDonald meets the American Heart Assn. It is clear that what we eat can help to either extend or shorten our lives, affecting our chances of getting heart disease or cancer. Now, even fast-food chains have taken the message to heart, as you’ll see on Page 16. But maybe it is the mice that know best: Those who are fed about half their normal caloric intake are smaller, livelier and healthier-looking, UCLA researchers say. But are they happy? See Page 9. There are, of course, millions of people who do not have enough to eat, not by their own choice but largely because of overpopulation. Our story on Page 13 looks at the causes, effects and possible solutions to the world’s overpopulation problem.

We also examine other timely issues: Mammograms (Page 24), long-distance running (Page 6), and simple, old-fashioned ice as a medical tool (Page 22).

Finally, if you think MASH was the epitome of a health care system gone berserk, you probably haven’t been involved in a struggle with a hospital billing department. Paul Lieberman has and has lived (barely) to write about it (Page 29).

In conjunction with the section, The Times is sponsoring a job fair for workers in the health care field. Called Good Health Career Days, it will be held Monday and Tuesday at The Long Beach Arena. In a world that is growing ever more conscious of health, nutrition and fitness, we hope that Health Horizons helps put some things in perspective for you.

Joel Greenberg

Science/Medicine Editor

The Los Angeles Times

EDITOR: Joel Greenberg

DESIGN DIRECTOR: Sandra Chelist

NEWS EDITOR: Keith Thursby

COPY EDITORS: Brian Hanrahan, Larry Harnisch, Fred Holley, Raymond E. Johnson, Philip Krapf, Paige Owens, Walt Taylor, Michael Wyma

RESEARCHER: Tracy Thomas

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Steve Mitchell