Following an intense period of economic downturn, pending war, corporate and religious scandal, terrorism and emotional recovery, 2003 will be a year of Primal Passions.

Food, family, love, and vanity will drive what's new and hot in the upcoming year.

At the root of Popcorn's predictions for 2003 are several of the consumer Trends upon which Popcorn and her BrainReserve base their consulting work, including "Cocooning," "AtmosFear," "Anchoring, "Being Alive," and "Pleasure Revenge".

The following are the most impactful and intriguing manifestations of these Trends to emerge in 2003:

One of the biggest and increasingly controversial issues facing Americans is our obesity and who or what is responsible for it. Studies from the Center for Disease Control say we are fatter than ever -- nearly two- thirds of adults 20 to 74 years old are classified as overweight, as are about one in six young people ages 6 to 19. As Americans grapple with their eating habits, a new vocation will emerge -- food coaches. Part psychologist, part sociologist, part family therapists and part nutritionist, these individuals will emerge as part of the solution in the struggle to control obesity. Factoring in age, work, cultural background, genetic makeup and emotional state, food coaches will work with individuals and families to develop a customized and achievable healthful eating lifestyle.

Expect a sharp re-ordering of our priorities in 2003 and beyond. There will be a new focus on "need reduction strategies" in order to increase time spent with family rather than time spent working and making money. Instead of living to work, people will once again just be working to live. Animating this social shift are the continued trauma-waves of September 11th, as well as family pressure (21% of teens rate lack of time with their parents as one of their greatest concerns) and the tainting of the single- minded pursuit of money due to the financial scandals of 2002. As part of this, a 4-day workweek movement, called Family Fridays, will emerge.

Male vanity or "manity" is going mass. Men from every demographic group are realizing they won't lose their machismo by caring about or improving how they look. Since 1992 there has been an 80% increase in the number of plastic procedures done on men. Over the next few years we will see enormous marketplace growth in this industry as men's desire to achieve and maintain beauty and youth becomes mainstream. The phenomenon is driven, in part, by aging baby boomers who reject gravity as much as they rejected the establishment in the 1960s. If it's not mass now, it will be soon. Watch for the growth of numerous male institutions once reserved for women, such as Men's Day Spas and Salons (Malons), offering an extensive selection of relaxation and grooming treatments and services specifically for men, these business may eventually become the networking hubs of the future.

Cosmetic surgery is moving beyond the narcissistic to a higher spiritual plane, a new kind of self-actualization. As a result, we are experiencing a new acceptance and freedom where people no longer are hiding physical changes, but are wearing them like a badge. Cosmetic procedures increased 304% from 1997 to 2001. Nearly 8.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed in 2001 an increase of 48% compared to the previous year's total of 5.7 million. Consumers are looking for their own unique, identifiable look and flaunting things like piercing, tattoos, brightly dyed hair, colored contact lenses.

In addition to the these primary tends that will strongly shape consumer behavior in 2003, there are several lesser trends that should also be noted, such as: