Product Description
The Seven Deadly Sins of Obesity argues that the skyrocketing increase in obesity levels is not caused by individuals' moral weakness, but is due to modern society's lack of the virtues necessary for people to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors. In a fresh and highly original approach, the book identifies a set of seven social and environmental "sins" that characterize our contemporary world. They are an obsession with consumption; an all-pervasive sense of time pressure; parenting pressures; technological obsessions; reliance on motor vehicles; the marketing of unhealthy products; and competing sources of advice.

After discussing each of these key environmental determinants, the book explains the unequal distribution of obesity by social, cultural, and economic indicators, and concludes with an exploration of what actions are needed to "save" the environment from its sinful dynamism. ... Read more

Product Description
Consumer text aims to empower the reader to deal with the real causes of obesity. Covers underlying conditions, such as mood disorders, chronic tiredness, chronic pain, chronic gastrointestinal discomfort, or binge eating disorder. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Very Good Book for Anyone Who Has, or Thinks that They Have a Weight Challenge
This is not a long book, but it is full of good advice that should really be given to anyone who has - or thinks that they have - a weight issue.

Dr Levy's emphasis on an individualized approach is just what we have also been doing for almost three decades, and it is demonstrably superior to the "One size fits all" approach. We are all biochemically, metabolically and psychologically different, and the systems involved in the maintenance of weight are amongst the most complex in the body.

I also like the way in which he integrates endocrinological and psychological approaches into his program. To ignore those is not just disrespectful, but terribly inefficient. Many factors can lead people to have problems with weight management.

One surprise about the book is that the subtitle is "The Five Medical Causes," yet it was difficult to find them! He cites a great many medical causes, and they are all correct!

I would also like to have seen some discussion about the use of the subtle systems of the body and the tremendous value of bringing a transpersonal perspective to bear on weight management. But then I suppose that he wouldn't have left me anything to write about!

Truly helps understand the mind body disconnect.
Dr. Levy provides a great wealth of information regarding the struggle with obesity.I would say that if you are not obese, but have been struggling with trying to lose weight over and over this book would be a great help.

Having worked with people who are trying to lose just a small amount of weight, just saying eat right and exercise fail for the same reasons they do for someone obese.Many people say that want to lose weight, but have not truly discovered a meaningful reason for change.Many of the other aspects of disordered eating and FEAR of change apply to the slightly overweight as well.

A truly insightful book about the struggle with weight.The insight Dr. Levy provides is spot on.If only more people would hear this information and not all the "weight-loss" rip offs.Highly recommend, easy to read, case studies provided illustrate perfectly.

A beautifully sane approach
Dr. Levy points out the major error within the diet and weight control industry:for most people obesity is first of all a symptom.

He offers excellent insights and suggestions on ways to regain your communication with your body so that you can learn to pay attention to the most knowledgeable person of all when it comes to deciding what and when you should eat-- yourself.

No one asks the person with a fever to "just stop that elevated temperature" and yet most diet and weight control "experts" repeatedly tell people with elevated weight to "just lose that weight."I sometimes fantasize about smashing a cheesecake in their faces.

worth more than any other hundred books on obesity
The author of this small book has really listened to overweight patients and has an analysis of obesity I have never heard of before:that it is not a single disorder, but a SYMPTOM of many different problems and health considerations unique to each obese individual.

Dr Levy, a Canadian, is far more intelligent, realistic, and interested in his patients than any American MD of my experience, far more sensitive and sympathetic than American shrinks.He does not seem to have his time squeezed into teeny, pressurized encounters that prevent him from communicating with and coming to understand his patients.Over a long period -- years -- of trial-and-error explorations, he and his patient gradually discover what problems prevent the patient from eating self-responsively, and address them one by one as they show up.

Just reading this book is extraordinary.You get a glimpse of what medicine might have been, had it not been hijacked by the forces that want to force everything into a business mold, however bad the fit, however horrible the resulting nightmare, and however much MORE rather than LESS expensive the results.

But even if all U.S. MDs WERE forced to read this book, it would not help, since they are no longer free to practice medicine.Patients, however, can benefit enormously from studying the book, working up their OWN case histories, and sorting out, as Dr Levy indicates is necessary in such cases, one by one, the problems like sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, mood disorders, predatory families, etc., which result in the disordered eating of which obesity is symptomatic.Unlike the cruel diet clubs that put overweight people through a weight loss process they know is bogus and will only revert to a heavier weight in time, this very methodic and gradual approach respects the obese individual, sticks to reality, and really helps.No other book is like it.Nowadays, it is rare to find a doctor even BOTHERING with obesity.People prefer to write about anorexia and bulimia.This is a terrific book by an impressive medical doctor.

A comprehensive review of Obesity
All doctors should read this book. Dr Levy explains the real reasons why people overeat & offers a variety of ways doctors can assist people to lose weight & keep it off. His perceptions & sensitivity to the problems that the obese face when attempting to lose weight are a rare find. The best book on the subject, bar none. ... Read more

Product Description

Physical Activity and Obesity, Second Edition, addresses an array of topics that explore and divulge the links between physical activity (or inactivity) and obesity. Leading scientists from various backgrounds team up to provide an unrivaled resource examining the latest research and developments in the field. Each chapter provides researchers and practitioners with a clear explanation of the concepts, research techniques, and results of studies critical to understanding physical activity and the obesity epidemic.

Customer Reviews (2)

A fine survey highly recommended for any health or sports collection
Claude Bouchard and Peter T. Katzmarzyk edit PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND OBESITY, which appears in its second updated edition to survey links between physical activity, inactivity, and obesity. From areas of controversy and uncertainty to underlying physical activity research and research areas for further exploration, this packs in a fine survey highly recommended for any health or sports collection.

The go-to resource for those who work with overweight patients
Is obesity the result of overeating, lack of exercise or both? This book helps clarify the issue of obesity as it relates to the lack of proper physical activity and how to address the problem.

The author tells us, "Physical activity is recognized as a critical aspect of behavioral weight control interventions. Typically, behavioral weight control programs have encouraged participants to gradually increase their activity until they achieve a level of at least 1000 kcal/week of moderate-intensity physical activity. This level of activity would equate to approximately 10 miles of brisk walking per week and would take about 150 min per week to complete. The 150 min per week exercise goal has been adopted in several large weight loss trials such as the Diabetes Prevention Program."

High levels of physical activity can prevent and even cure obesity. "The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) provides further evidence that weight loss maintainers are characterized by high levels of physical activity. The NWCR was established in 1993 to investigate the characteristics of individuals who have succeeded at losing at least 30 lb (13.6 kg) and keeping it off at least one year. Currently there are over 5000 individuals in the registry. These members far exceed the minimum eligibility criteria; on average they have lost almost 70 lb (32 kg) and kept it off almost six years. Analyses of approximately 3000 registry participants indicate that the average participant reports 2691 kcal/week (7) in physical activity. Men report higher levels of activity than women (2903 vs. 2532 kcal/week), but the average level corresponds very well with current activity recommendations for weight loss maintenance. However, it should be noted that there is marked variability among NWCR participants; 25% report expending <1000 kcal per week in physical activity, whereas 35% report over 3500 kcal per week."

But the environment has a lot to do with the tendency toward obesity. Says the author, "There is consistent evidence that adults who live in walkable communities walk and cycle more for transportation, and have higher levels of total physical activity, than those who live in low-walkable suburban areas (3). Differences between neighborhood types of 30 to 60 min per week of physical activity have been documented with both self-reports and objective measures such as accelerometers (4). The evidence was sufficient for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Guide to Community Preventive Services to classify community-scale land-use changes as effective physical activity interventions (4). Cervero and Kockelman (5) introduced the "3 D" principles of designing communities that support active transportation: residential density, land-use diversity, and pedestrian-oriented designs."

What about clinical evaluation of the overweight patient? Here's what we learn from the book. "The basic components involved in the evaluation of any overweight or obese patient are a medical examination and a laboratory assessment. These should include a record of the historical events associated with the patient's weight problem, a physical examination for pertinent information, and appropriate laboratory evaluation. I will use the criteria recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (1) and also take into account the reports from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NLHBI) (2) and the World Health Organization (3). The importance of evaluating overweight individuals has increased as the epidemic of overweight has worsened and the number of potential patients needing treatment has increased."

Let's take a look at the contents:

Part I. Definition and Assessment of Physical Activity and Obesity

Chapter 1. Introduction
Claude Bouchard and Peter T. Katzmarzyk
Chapter 2. The Physical Activity and Exercise Continuum
Darren Warburton
Chapter 3. Assessing the Level of Sedentarism
Mark S. Tremblay
Chapter 4. Assessing the Level of Physical Activity in Adults
Barbara E. Ainsworth
Chapter 5. Assessing the Level of Physical Activity in Children
Russell E. Pate
Chapter 6. Assessment of Obesity in Adults
George A. Bray
Chapter 7. Assessment of Obesity in Children
John H. Himes
Chapter 8. The Limitations of Self-Report in Physical Activity and Obesity Research
Richard P. Troiano

Part II. Prevalence and Cost Issues

Chapter 9. The Prevalence of Adult Physical Inactivity Around the World
Wendy J. Brown
Chapter 10. The Prevalence of Childhood Physical Inactivity Around the World
Chris Riddoch
Chapter 11. The Prevalence of Adult Obesity Around the World
W. Philip T. James
Chapter 12. The Economic Cost of Obesity
Peter T. Katzmarzyk
Chapter 13. The Prevalence of Childhood Obesity Around the World
Tim Lobstein
Chapter 14. The Economic Cost of Physical Inactivity
Ian Janssen
Chapter 15. The Cost-Benefit Relationship of Physical Activity Interventions for Obesity
Larissa Roux

Part III. Determinants of Physical Activity Levels

Chapter 16. Biological Regulation of Physical Activity Level
Catherine M. Kotz
Chapter 17. Genetics and Physical Activity Level
Tuomo Rankinen
Chapter 18. Epigenetic or Programming Effects on Physical Activity Level
Mark Vickers
Chapter 19. Socioeconomic Position and Physical Activity Levels
Lise Gauvin
Chapter 20. Ethnic Differences in Physical Activity Level
Robert L. Newton, Jr.
Chapter 21. Psychological Factors and Physical Activity Level
Rod K. Dishman
Chapter 22. Effects of the Built Environment on Physical Activity Level
James F. Sallis

Part IV. Physical Activity and Risk of Obesity

Chapter 23. Sedentary Time and the Risk of Obesity in Adults
Ross Andersen
Chapter 24. Sedentary Time and the Risk of Obesity in Children
Steven L. Gortmaker
Chapter 25. Physical Activity Level and the Risk of Obesity in Adults
John M. Jakicic
Chapter 26. Physical Activity Level and the Risk of Obesity in Children
Margarita S. Treuth
Chapter 27. Childhood Physical Activity and Risk of Adult Obesity
Robert M. Malina
Chapter 28. Childhood Obesity and Risk of Adult Obesity
Francois Trudeau
Chapter 29. Physical Activity and Risk of Obesity in Older People
Wendy M. Kohrt
Chapter 30. Physical Fitness and Risk of Obesity
Steven N. Blair
Chapter 31. The Interaction of Diet and Physical Activity on Obesity
Tom Baranowski

Part V. Physical Activity and Biological Determinants of Obesity

Chapter 32. Physical Activity Level and Resting Metabolic Rate
Angelo Tremblay
Chapter 33. Physical Activity Level and Thermic Effect Of Food
Yves Schutz
Chapter 34. Physical Activity Level and Substrate Oxidation Rates
Steven R. Smith
Chapter 35. Physical Activity Level and Sympathetic Nervous System Activity
Ian Macdonald
Chapter 36. Physical Activity Level and Adipose Tissue Biology
Isabelle de Glisezinski
Chapter 37. Physical Activity Level and Leptin Biology
David J. Dyck
Chapter 38. Physical Activity Level and Hypothalamic Peptides
Christopher D. Morrison
Chapter 39. Physical Activity Level and Gut Peptides
Stephen C. Woods
Chapter 40. Physical Activity Level and Thyroid Hormones
Anthony C. Hackney
Chapter 41. Physical Activity Level and the HPA Axis
Denis Richard
Chapter 42. Physical Activity Level and Skeletal Muscle Biology
David A. Hood
Chapter 43. Postexercise Energy Expenditure
Elizabet Borsheim
Chapter 44. Genetics of Obesity
Ruth J.F. Loos
Chapter 45. Epigenetic Effects on Obesity
Peter Nathanielsz

Part VI. Physical Activity, Behavioral and Environmental Determinants of Obesity

Chapter 46. Physical Activity Level and Sleep
Shawn D. Youngstedt
Chapter 47. Physical Activity Level and Occupational Work
David R. Bassett, Jr.
Chapter 48. Physical Activity Level and Mode of Transportation
Catrine Tudor-Locke
Chapter 49. Effects of the Built Environment on Obesity
Neville Owen
Chapter 50. Socioeconomic Status and Obesity
Youfa Wang
Chapter 51. Physical Activity Level and Dietary Intake
Conrad Earnest

Part VII. Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity

Chapter 52. Physical Activity in the Prevention of Weight Gain
Mikael Fogelholm
Chapter 53. Physical Activity for Weight Loss
Robert Ross
Chapter 54. Physical Activity Versus Diet-Induced Weight Loss
Joseph Donnelly
Chapter 55. Role of Physical Activity in Pharmacological Weight Loss
Frank Greenway
Chapter 56. Role of Physical Activity in Surgical Weight Loss
Paul O'Brien
Chapter 57. Physical Activity and Depot-Specific Fat Loss
Victor Katch
Chapter 58. Physical Activity, Visceral Fat, and Ectopic Fat Deposition
Bret Goodpaster
Chapter 59. Physical Activity, Weight Loss, and Maintenance of Lean Mass
Steven Heymsfield
Chapter 60. Physical Activity for Weight Loss Maintenance
Rena Wing
Chapter 61. Physical Activity and Weight Control During Pregnancy
Michelle Mottola
Chapter 62. Physical Activity and Postpartum Weight Loss
Cheryl Lovelady
Chapter 63. Physical Activity and Birth Weight
Johan G. Eriksson
Chapter 64. Physical Activity and Body Composition in Children
Bob Gutin

Part VIII. Clinical Implications

Chapter 65. Physical Activity and Mortality Rates in Obesity
Kevin R. Fontaine
Chapter 66. Physical Activity and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Obesity
Markku Laakso
Chapter 67. Physical Activity and Type 2 Diabetes in Obesity
Edward S. Horton
Chapter 68. Physical Activity and Hypertension in Obesity
James M. Hagberg
Chapter 69. Physical Activity and Heart Disease in Obesity
Timothy Church
Chapter 70. Physical Activity and Stroke in Obesity
Janice Eng
Chapter 71. Physical Activity and Endothelial Dysfunction in Obesity
Christopher A. DeSouza
Chapter 72. Physical Activity and Inflammation in Obesity
Mark Hamer
Chapter 73. Physical Activity and Depression in Obesity
Adrian H. Taylor
Chapter 74. Physical Activity and Breast Cancer in Obesity
Kerry S. Courneya
Chapter 75. Physical Activity and Colon Cancer in Obesity
I-Min Lee
Chapter 76. Physical Activity and Other Cancers in Obesity
Roy Shephard
Chapter 77. Physical Activity, Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome
Mercedes R. Carnethon
Chapter 78. Physical Activity and Musculoskeletal Disorders in Obesity
Jennifer M. Hootman
Chapter 79. Physical Activity and Risk of Falls in Obese Elderly
Teresa Liu Ambrose
Chapter 80. Adverse Events of Physical Activity in Obese Persons
Kenneth E. Powell
Chapter 81. Physical Activity and CVD Risk Profile in Obese Children
Lars Bo Andersen
Chapter 82. Physical Activity and Risk of Diabetes in Obese Children
Louise Baur

Part IX. Policy and Research Issues

Chapter 83. Global Policy Initiatives Related to Physical Activity and Obesity
Timothy Armstrong
Chapter 84. The Role of Government in the Promotion of Physical Activity
Art Salmon
Chapter 85. Community-Based Physical Activity Programs to Address Obesity
W. Kerry Mummery
Chapter 86. School-Based Physical Activity Programs to Address Obesity
Chantal Simon
Chapter 87. The Role of Industry in the Promotion of Physical Activity
John C. Peters
Chapter 88. Mass Media Approaches to Addressing Physical Inactivity and Obesity
Adrian Bauman
Chapter 89. Physical Activity and Obesity Research: Looking to the Future
Peter T. Katzmarzyk and Claude Bouchard

Sincethe first edition of this book was published, the field of physical activity and obesity has come up with a good deal of new research. That's why this new edition came into being. There's a keen need for it.

According to the publisher, Human Kinetics, "Editors Bouchard and Katzmarzyk create a go-to resource with 89 succinct, authoritative chapters that may be used independently or as a complete text. Packed with the most up-to-date information linking obesity and physical activity, this comprehensive book."

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson ... Read more

Product Description
Obesity is affecting our children at an alarming rate. Today's high-calorie menus and low-effort lifestyles put kids at risk and can lead to negative health and social consequences. Society tends to look for a quick fix, but gimmicks don't work! Dr. Robert Andersen, an award-winning pediatrician and experienced dad, has a common-sense, down-to-earth plan that does. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fit Kids
This book is excellent.Dr. Andersen is my daughter's doctor, and the book is great.It is very helpful.I recommend it to anyone raising children right now.

Informative and Simply put...
Dr. Andersen has made it quite simple for parents, discussing the importance of nutrition and exercise in raising healthy children.He gets to the bottom line on the subject and delivers what it is we all need to know in a way that is easy to read and relate to.It is definitely worth it to read this book if you are serious about raising healthy kids! ... Read more

Product Description
The obesity epidemic is adversely affecting reproductive health compromising both the mother and the fetus. Written by international experts this practical guide for health professionals is an invaluable resource for dealing with obese pregnant women. It not only covers specific pregnancy issues but also weight loss strategies. Topics cover Core issues, Obesity and reproduction, Preconceptual, antenatal and postnatal care and Surgery and anaesthesia. ... Read more

Product Description
Obesity is one of the prime contributors to ill health in modern society, affecting around 20-25% of the population. It can cause or exacerbate a variety of health problems and is often associated with several other diseases including type II diabetes, coronary heart disease and certain types of cancer. Significant progress has been made in understanding the role of the nervous system and, in particular, the complex interplay between a range of orexigenic and anorectic agents within specific hypothalamic nuclei in the regulation of energy balance, appetite and adiposity. Several different neuronal pathways, neurotransmitters and hormones have been identified as major players in the regulation of feeding behavior and body weight and these are now being targeted as having therapeutic potential. Written for academic researchers and graduate students, Neurobiology of Obesity is a concise overview of recent developments in this field, authored by leading international experts. ... Read more

Product Description
Addressing a growing epidemic in today’s world, Obesity: Evaluation and Treatment Essentials presents practical treatment protocols for obesity, including exercise, pharmacology, behavior modification, and dietary factors, from the point of view of the practicing physician.

Encompassing a multidisciplinary audience of clinicians and researchers, this comprehensive resource is an invaluable, user-friendly tool for bariatric physicians and surgeons, endocrinologists, diabetologists, nutritionists, dieticians, and all those who treat obesity.

Written by prominent members of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, this text:

• Showcases successful treatment methods by including key points of various clinicians in each chapter
• Includes an up-to-date chapter on the pharmacology of bariatric medicine that identifies the three classes of obesity drugs: those that increase energy expenditure, those that decrease energy intake, and those that inhibit the digestion and absorption of food
• Addresses various dietary intervention approaches such as low calorie balanced diets, low carbohydrate diets, and very low carbohydrate diets
• Explores the comorbidities of obesity, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and Type II diabetes

Product Description
This book is an exploration of information literacy and ICT skills education from the point of view of social and political theory, and it explains why information literacy is so important in the 21st century. The book proposes ways to expand the range of information literacy educationtaking it beyond just formal school and university education and into homes, friendship networks and workplacesto construct an effective educational response to information technology in the 21st century. While information literacy includes ICT skills, it is also comprised of political, social and communication competence. ... Read more

Product Description
Being overweight at a young age can lead to future health problems and can negatively impact every area of a child’s life. Instead of simply suggesting a reduced-calorie diet, this book outlines effective strategies for improving nutrition, decreasing reliance on fast foods, increasing physical activity, and eating together as a family. When kids shop, cook, eat, and exercise alongside their parents, it instills good eating habits and lifestyle behaviors for a lifetime of health and fitness. Helpful illustrations, charts, and tables are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Information
There's a lot of good information here.As a teacher of twenty-five years, and as a parent, I've dealt with more than my share of overweight kids, and read everything that comes along on the subject.And although this book is one of the better ones out there, I've been recommending the CD talk "The Fat Kid's Diet: Stop Childhood Obesity In Your Home," available here at Amazon, to the parents who come to me with their concerns.It's brief, sensible, and right to the point.

Kids-shape up for performance and health
This book is a must for parents, educators, legislators, health care providers - anyone who is dealing with children and/or the obesity epidemic.The authors provide concise, timely, and practical information needed to deal with real-life situations. Throughout the stages of a child's life, parents are the ones most influential in the habits that are formed.This book provides ideas for menu planning and recipes for quick healthy meals and fun activities for busy families.
The authors, also, give tips on contemporary food and nutrition issues such as eating disorders, food safety, kids and sports, healthy snacking, and vending machine choices.
At the end of the book, the appendices include charts, a variety of food and activity pyramids, and Dietary Reference Intakes for macronutrients, minerals and vitamins.
This book is easy to read and can be read either from beginning to end or according to a particular topic.
For the sake of our children, our families, and our nation, we need to encourage everyone to shape up.We will all feel better and improve our performance. This book is a great tool to help families and professionals get a grip on this problem.It's time we give a conserted effort to OVERCOMING CHILDHOOD OBESITY. ... Read more

Product Description
According to the World Health Organization we are in the midst of a global obesity crisis. Is obesity a disease itself or a symptom of underlying physiological or psychological illnesses? Is it a sign of social excess and therefore not a disease in the medical sense at all?Is it really 'new'?

Sander L. Gilman, a leading authority in the social and cultural history of the body, presents a fascinating account of the history of obesity, looking at the changing attitudes towards the body, from regarding it as 'God's temple' to more mechanical and practical concerns from the Enlightenment onwards. In the eighteenth century obesity was understood as a problem of the affluent; today the affluent are more likely to have a personal trainer and a healthier diet, and it is the poorer classes who are more likely to be overweight. Gilman considers obesity in many contexts - including a chapter on obesity in China and the impact of modernization and Westernization on this very different culture.

Taking the issue up to the present day, Gilman examines the wider political and social implications obesity raises, considering whether obesity should be cured by diet or surgery, by psychotherapy or economic improvement, by healthier food choices or by social relocation. ... Read more

Product Description
Although recognised clinically for some time as an important condition that increases risk of ill-health in affected individuals, it is only recently that obesity had been recognised as a population-wide problem that requires preventive action. Obesity is a major contributor to diseases and disability, the associated health costs are enormous and obesity has already reached epidemic proportions in many countries, and incidence is continuing to increase in children and adults. Disturbingly the epidemic is not confined to developed countries, with many developing countries and those in transition affected. While recognised as a major population health problem, our understanding of the causes of the epidemic is poor, there has been relatively little population-based research that has focused on the prevention of unhealthy weight gain, and as a consequence knowledge regarding how and where best to intervene is limited.

Revised and updated and now part of the From Aetiology to Public Health series, Obesity Epidemiology provides a scholarly text that assists those concerned with understanding prevalence and trends in obesity; its health, social and economic consequences, the underlying causes of the obesity epidemic, the existing evidence regarding strategies to prevent obesity, and the potential of public health initiatives to impact on the population prevalence of obesity. This edition not only provides a thorough update of the material presented in the previous edition (entitled Obesity Prevention and Public Health), but also includes twelve new chapters that cover the epidemiology of obesity in children and adults, and the potential of public health approaches to its prevention.

This book will be of interest to all those working in public health and epidemiology; health policy makers, and clinicians and health practitioners working in the related fields of nutrition, exercise and diabetes.

About the series
By looking at public health issues from a unique condition-based approach, the innovative From Aetiology to Public Health series examines top public health issues from aetiology through to public health and prevention. ... Read more

Product Description
Childhood obesity is an international public health concern, with a high profile in both the media and government policy. Controversial issues in the prevention of childhood obesity need to be considered early in the development of school, clinical or community prevention programs, as these issues are often the ones that promote the success or failure of attempts to ameliorate the problem at hand.

This book combines health education theory, research, and practice to guide researchers, students, educators, community health workers and practitioners in the prevention of childhood obesity and the promotion of child and adolescent health and well-being. It examines controversy in childhood obesity, including the link with poverty and the difficulty of addressing obesity whilst also tackling the issue of eating disorders. The prevalence of childhood obesity is covered, with international chapters examining the importance of factors such as social class and ethnic differences, and global and local trends are identified. Approaches to prevention are presented, and the book concludes with the successful outcome of various interventions, demonstrating how the whole school community can collaborate to promote health among young people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Get Moving and Read This Book
I originally picked up the first book in this series (America's Unhealthy Lifestyle:Supersize It!) from my local library in August of this year while browsing for reading material for a "set" about obesity, diet (as in eating habits, as well as over viewing various "diet" books), and general health and well-being.I figured why not...it's a book aimed at teens...why not see what is being published for them about this issue.This is my second in the seven volume Obesity:Modern-Day Epidemic (it's technically the fourth book in the series, but currently the Ohio Public Library system only has volumes one and four).The Importance of Physical Activity and Exercise is a broad overview of what is being called the obesity epidemic these days, obviously focusing on why physical activity is just as important as what we are eating.In many ways this series is like Fast Food Nation or Supersize Me! but with out the gross stuff on animal slaughter (FFN) or the throwing up (SSM).

In my first review, I didn't think teens over the age of 15 would be very interested in it...but having read this second book, I'm really warming up to the series and hope that my library will be getting more of them in!Coming in a just over 100 pages (including index, recommended reading and glossary) it is heavy on splashy graphic layouts which I think will appeal to the target audience a great deal.Covered in the 7 chapters of The Importance of Physical Activity is a general overview along with chapters covering what excess weight means for your health; what exactly are the foundations for good health; getting started on adding exercise to your life; risks of fitness obsession, and much more.

What I found particularly appealing about this book is its emphasis on individuality and personal identity...telling the reader in many different ways that it's not realistic or desirable to try to look like the media images of beauty.Additionally there wasn't any pushing for only one weight or one BMI or even one type of fitness routine.This book goes out of its way to ensure that the reader understands that it is activity and movement that is important and that each individual should find activities that he or she really enjoys and add them to their life as often as possible.

Overall, a good read that I think would make a great addition to any school or public library and I would encourage them to add this to their shelves without hesitation.That said, I honestly don't see this series winding up in many personal libraries with a price tag of nearly 25.00 per book.Additionally this book is aimed at teens, but I'd guess that older children 9-12 (ish) might like this book (and series) as well; it would be easy to read and understand. In the world of kiddie books, this is about a B-.The information is solid, I like that it pushes positive body image while still allowing for personal preference, it's got a table of contents, index, glossary (bonus), AND recommended reading (always a good thing) while not being overly long or too technical for the target readers.It's interesting if you buy into the obesity as a national epidemic or just want to give your kids a solid grounding in what is wrong with eating a lot of fast food and why physical activity and exercise are so important to their health and well being.
... Read more

Product Description
Brings together the facts behind the headline issue of obesity. Ideal support for PSHE/Citizenship and Media Studies. Panels highlight key facts and statistics and suggest topics for debate. ... Read more

Product Description
The synthesis of forty years of pioneering work by the world's leading authority on the emotional aspects of eating disorders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Real and Caring Analysis and Potential Solution
This book is excellent.It's probably a classic or "the" classic (I don't know it's not my field).I read it many years ago, probably just after it was published, and I still remember most of its lessons.Anyone interested in "weight studies" should buy and read this book.

Reading a recent article on women's neurology I was astounded that the writers/scientists never once mentioned psychotherapy and the role of emotions and early childhood experiences in their literature analysis.It was as if anorexia and bulimia were genetic diseases, existing outside of culture.I know it's very hard to treat anorexia (bulimia is easier) but it is possible and Bruch outlines how to do it.

unique insight
Studies today revolve around body image and ignore the emotions and thoght processes vital to understanding eating disorders. Bruch brilliantly describes what it is to suffer from these wayward thought processes, andoffers an incredibly insightful and intimate look into the world of ananorexic. Excellent for those who are suffers and for those trying tounderstand. ... Read more

Product Description

Increasing obesity levels are currently big news but do we think carefully enough about what this trend actually means? Everybody – including doctors, parents, teachers, sports clubs, businesses and governments – has a role to play in the ‘war on obesity’. But is talk of an obesity ‘crisis’ justified? Is it the product of measured scientific reasoning or age-old ‘habits of mind’? Why is it happening now? And are there potential risks associated with talking about obesity as an ‘epidemic’?

The Obesity Epidemic proposes that obesity science and the popular media present a complex mix of ambiguous knowledge, familiar (yet unstated) moral agendas and ideological assumptions.

Customer Reviews (6)

Indispensable Perspectives
The authors make for a very compelling review of the literature ranging from sociology, psychology, nutrition, physical education, philosophy of science, political science and history.They illuminate the results of what happens when science and morality combine to form public opinion and policy.The "moral panic" evident in the news coverage as well as much of the scientific coverage of obesity is outlined and throughly explored coming to the conclusion that there are many things that science alone will never be able to tell us about how individuals should live and that science is never as unbiased/objective as many would like to believe.I believe that this book should become required reading for those studying nutrition, medicine, public policy or public health.

Reality Based Science Takes New View on Obesity
This book takes a look at a variety of obesity research with a fresh eye. It assumes nothing, and what is revealed with this unbiased eye will surprise and amaze most readers. As many know, diets don't work. This helps explain why. Fat people aren't fat due to gluttony. Exercise, while it may be good for people of all sizes, does not contribute much to body size except in extreme cases. Twin studies and meta-analyses are methodically reviewed. Much of what passes for facts or science in the public debate on obesity, is really more about morality and ideology. Well done!

Great starting point for researching weight hysteria, little on physiology
The book is a fairly dense read wherein the authors endlessly cite research on weight and activity-levels.I think one of the best points they make is how we really cannot conclude, from the evidence they cite, that our bodies are machines where an alegebra of energy-in/energy-out explains our weight.Indeed, the diversity of individual reactions to exercise and food makes it difficult to say exactly what "program" should be advocated.They also draw interesting parallels between moralizing over weight and simply citing statistics that support this value judgment that fat is bad. However, it is true that one wishes for more explanation of how we understand, if not yet fully, human physiology, digestion, etc. which would, to laypeople like myself, seem critical to understanding how weight and health are interlinked.

Healthy skepticism perhaps overdone
The whole effort to counter the hysteria over overweight makes a certain sense. The revealing of how problematic categories for defining 'overweight' are is also important.
I am not sure however that their discounting ofscientific approaches to weight- loss is correct.
Nor am I sure that their placing a great part of the burden on socio-economic factors is the correct direction for the society to take. And this when there is obviously a real difference between the thinner, wealthier population and the heavier, poorer population.
But is there any doubt whatsoever tht being overweight is a major factor in the epidemic of Type 2 Diabetes which the world, and not only the Western world is experiencing.
Is there too any doubt that being significantly overweight is a major risk factor in heart disease and stroke?
Is there any question that arthritic and joint illnesses are aggravated by overweight?
It is one thing to point to the hysteria and exaggerations, and another to go all the way to the other side and poo- poo the public health danger, and individual danger of being overweight.

Questionable Logic
"The Obesity Epidemic, Science, Morality and Ideology"is not light reading. The authors, university physical educators in Australia, have packed an enormous amount of research and thought into this volume. Their premises are:
1. The obesity epidemic has been hyped and blown out of proportion,
2. Scientific uncertainties have been papered over with unsupported assumptions.
3. The rush to `fix' the epidemic is likely to lead to policies which are unwise, unnecessary, wasteful and possibly counter-productive.

The authors state, "In short, the first danger that this book addresses is that talk of an `obesity epidemic' has the potential to do more harm than good." The second danger they address is that the public, journalists, scientists and other authors offer misguided explanations for the obesity epidemic. Their final and key point is that,"a scientific approach to the human body has not led, and is unlikely to lead, to more satisfactory ways of thinking about overweight and obesity." They give three reasons for this conclusion. First, "the science of overweight, obesity, health and the mediating role of exercise and diet are severely mired in controversy and contradiction...Second, it seems optimistic to suggest that the populace is on the verge of dispensing with their superstitions, fears and prejudices about body weight in favor of a more `mechanistic' or `scientific' way of thinking...Third, it is not at all clear how a more `mechanistic' or `scientific' view of weight and obesity would be a good thing."The following, dense nearly two hundred pages are written in support of their theses.

It isn't hard to find researchers who offer global prescriptions to control body weight; it isn't hard to find press accounts which hype this or that discovery or new information and it isn't hard to find dubious or misguided policy prescriptions. But the authors' real target is science itself. They feel that overweight and obesity just can't be viewed as a science at all and that biology, physics, have not been helpful and will not be helpful in the future. A big part of their gripe is the energy in/energy out formula just doesn't seem to work consistently in obesity studies.

In fact, a number of the authors' insights and observations should cause some serious thinking. But it is curious to note that, although the authors are university professors and although they must cite close to a thousand studies, there is not, as I can read it, one reference to the discovery of leptin, much less the influences of the host of neuropeptides, hormones and other neuroendocrine effects of adipose tissue. One must ask, "In all this research, did they never come across the information about grehlin, PYY 3-36, and other such influencers? If they did come across them, why not reference all that is going on? Where is any analysis, or even mention, of the effects of bariatric surgery on the understanding of the disease process we call obesity?

The authors argue that because science has not solved the complexities of body weight regulation today it never will. And furthermore, that even if it could, people's thinking about body weight would never change. Surely, this is too rigid thinking. It is like saying that because physics has not come up with a grand unifying theory today, all physics research is useless and it won't make any progress in the future. Or that because we can't cure Parksinson's disease now, we never will. This is unacceptable on its face. Also untrue is that people's perceptions and actions do not change. In the days before Prozac, depression was poorly understood and treated; after Prozac the public, health care professionals and others came to see that at least some depression was a neurochemical imbalance. The sudden swings in the public's eating habits, such as the low-carb phenomenon, is further testament to the power of the public to seek outand employ hopeful approaches to weight control.

If science cannot get us where we want to go, what can we do? The authors have two, very brief suggestions. First, we could just `get over' it (their words). Simply accept overweight and obesity and move on to something else. Second, and more interesting is their suggestion that what is needed is a "thorough engagement with issues such as economic disadvantage, the workings of capitalism, increasingly deregulated labour markets and the imperative for companies, particularly, but not only, those that sell food to be profitable." As they so well acknowledge, "This would mean that the fields of science, medicine and health developing and articulating positions that are overtly moral and ideological, a project which would mean changing the very nature of science itself."

These conclusions comprise the last paragraph of the book. It might have behooved the authors to spend a little more time discussing how capitalism causes obesity or the effects of labor market regulation but it seems like these were mere afterthoughts. Having led the reader to conclude that science is a dead end, the authors have no where to go. Other of us might be much more sanguine about the prospects that the science of obesity is developing at a rapid pace and if there is a lot of `noise' in the system because of different studies and interpretations, this is a good thing. A robust scientific enterprise is the only alternative which can give the public and policy makers accurate information to address the significant challenge which is obesity. Morgan Downey, Executive Director, American Obesity Association
... Read more

Product Description

Obesity has become the number one health threat to Americans, but the incidence is most tragic for our children and teenagers. Nearly 1 in every 7 boys and girls is obese and far more are overweight. Most developed countries including the United Kingdom and Canada are seeing similar rates. In these volumes, a cross-disciplinary team of experts presents what we know and are learning about the causes of youth obesity, its affects, solutionfs, and future prevention. Contributors focus on the newest research from fields including pediatrics, genetics, nursing, nutritional science, surgery, psychology, advertising, geography, and landscape architecture. Obesity among our young has grown to epidemic proportions and sets our young up for a lifetime of phusical illness including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as well as psychological disorders from anxiety to depression and chronic stress. Yet the causes and solutions are not as easy to understand and address as we might think.

Topics addressed in these volumes include obesity from infancy across the life span, how the brain is affected by obesity, medical outcomes, medication and obesity, nutrition and the affect of supersized foods, the role of the media and built environments. Social disparities, family obesity, the role of television and video games, effective weight-loss programs, bariatric surgery, and ethical issues are also among chapter topics.

Product Description
When the leptin gene was discovered in 1994, news articles predicted that there might soon be an easy, pharmaceutical solution to the growing public health crisis of obesity. Yet this scientific breakthrough merely proved once again how difficult the fight against fat really is. Despite the many appetite-suppressants, diet pills, and weight-loss programs available today, approximately 30 percent of Americans are obese.And that number is expanding rapidly.
Fatis the engaging story of the scientific quest to understand and control body weight.Covering the entire twentieth century, Robert Pool chronicles the evolving blame-game for fat--from being a result of undisciplined behavior to subconscious conflicts, physiological disease, and environmental excess.Readers in today's weight-conscious society will be surprised to learn that being overweight was actually encouraged by doctors and popular health magazines up until the 1930s, when the health risks associated with being overweight were publicly recognized. Thus began decades of research and experiments that subsequently explained appetite, metabolism, and the development of fat cells.Pool effectively reanimates the colorful characters, curious experiments, brilliant insights and wrong turns that led to contemporary scientific understanding of America's epidemic. While he acknowledges the advances in the pharmacological fight against flab, he underscores that the real problem of obesity is not losing the weight but keeping it off.Drugs offer a quick fix, but they aren't the ultimate answer. American society must remedy the unhealthy daily environments of its cities and towns, and those who have struggled with their weight and have experienced the "yo-yo" cycle of dieting must understand the underlying science of body weight that makes their struggle more than a question of willpower.Amazon.com Review
Fat: Fighting the Obesity Epidemic, by science writer Robert Pool, is the story of obesity research: the quest to find out why people get fat, why certain people are more likely to gain weight than others, why it's so difficult to lose weight, how the body's weight-regulating system works, how genes and environment interact to produce obesity, and why dieters regain their weight more than 90 percent of the time.

Pool presents story after story about the obesity scientists and theirresearch, along with the evolution of social attitudes about corpulence.Some of the anecdotes are entertaining, such as the description of a 1911experiment where a researcher inflated a condom in his belly, attached to atube that went through his esophagus and out his mouth, to measure stomachcontractions during hunger. Others may make you shudder, such as the storyof 515-pound J.W., who lost weight in a hospital on a 600- to 800-calorieliquid diet 25 times, always rebounding afterwards to his previous weight.

Pool favors the leptin gene as a major clue to the mystery of obesity andtreats it with more scientific detail than any other topic. Leptin, Poolexplains, "regulates appetite and metabolism to keep the body at a stable,preferred weight." The brains of people with a mutation that results indeficient leptin production perceive their bodies as perpetuallystarving--even though they may be 50 or 100 pounds overweight.

Fat isn't a quick read and it won't tell you how to lose weight. It will appeal primarily to sociologists and those interested in the science of obesity. If that's you, you'll find this book to be a treasure trove of information. --Joan Price ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great book that covers all aspects of obesity and its causes
Millions of dollars are spent every year on diet books, personal trainers, weight loss pills and gym memberships so what is stopping people from shedding the extra pounds?America is the most highly developed country in the world so why can a reliable weight loss method not be devised?These are the sorts of questions that baffled and frustrated scientific journalist and author Robert Pool to the point that he was determined to find answers.Years of research and hundreds of interviews later, Pool would publish his remarkable findings in a topical, research-based book titled Fat:Fighting the Obesity Epidemic.Pool uses fascinating research stories as he unravels the history of obesity research.He discusses the environmental, psychological and biological factors that must be taken into consideration when searching for the cause of weight problems.Pool concludes that while genetics, heredity and other factors play a significant role in body size, the unhealthy environment that Americans are forced to face daily is the culprit responsible for the current "obesity epidemic."Although, professionals such as personal trainers, medical professionals and dieticians are probably the most likely to read and benefit from Fat, anyone with an interest in the history and science behind the obesity epidemic would enjoy this book.Pool uses minimal amount of scientific terms as he states personal stories, historical facts and medical findings to prove his theories on the obesity epidemic.Fat offers a great alternative to the current fad diet books that do not even touch on the science or underlying causes of weight problems.It is hard to find un-biased books dealing with weight loss which makes Fat very different from other books of the same topic.I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Well-written research thesis!
I couldn't put this book down, it was very interesting and showed some amazing discoveries in the field of obesity research.We are learning so much about why we overeat but we have yet to conquer 'FAT'.The author of this book explores the 'lighter' side of being heavy.It is beautifully written and reads more like a work of science fiction than non-fiction.Not a boring page in the whole book.Laymen will especially appreciate some of the intriguing studies on 'fat rats' and 'skinny rats'.Well worth the investment, especially if interested in losing weight.

This book does not explain the REAL cause of obesity.
This book should be considered fiction because it has no basis in fact or science. Using leptin injections to reduce weight has been proven in tests to be a big failure. Using leptin and dietary fats as the cause for obesity is false and sidetracks one from the real reason for obesity, excessive consumption of carbohydrates.

Robert Pool uses the Pima Indians in Arizona and Mexico to explain why the Arizona Pimas are the fattest in the United States verses their relatives in Mexico who are much thinner. Mr. Pool states that the Pima Indians were given bacon and cheese in the 1930's which started them on the weight gain. This is FALSE. Mr. Pool wrongly believes, as many still do today, that weight gain and diabetes is caused by the consumption of fats. Bacon and cheese has a very short shelf life and the Pimas did not have refrigeration. These were very expensive commodities which were NOT given to the Indians in those times. Excessive carbohydrates in the diet was and continues to be their problem. The Pimas were given sugar, white flour and canned goods like highly sweetened fruit in sugar sirup, jams and jellies. Mr. Pool did not even mention the sugar and white flour in the list of foods give to the Pimas.(...)

Don't buy Robert Pool's book unless you enjoy reading fiction.

The basic premise of this book is false.
This book should be considered fiction because it has no basis in fact or science. Using leptin injections to reduce weight has been proven in tests to be a big failure. Using leptin and dietary fats as the cause for obesity is false and sidetracks one from the real reason for obesity, excessive consumption of carbohydrates.

Robert Pool uses the Pima Indians in Arizona and Mexico to explain why the Arizona Pimas are the fattest in the United States verses their relatives in Mexico who are much thinner. Mr. Pool states that the Pima Indians were given bacon and cheese in the 1930's which started them on the weight gain. This is FALSE. Mr. Pool wrongly believes, as many still do today, that weight gain and diabetes is caused by the consumption of fats. Bacon and cheese has a very short shelf life and the Pimas did not have refrigeration. These were very expensive commodities which were NOT given to the Indians in those times. Excessive carbohydrates in the diet was and continues to be their problem. The Pimas were given sugar, white flour and canned goods like highly sweetened fruit in sugar sirup, jams and jellies. Mr. Pool did not even mention the sugar and white flour in the list of foods give to the Pimas.

One can read the truth about the demise of the health of Indians in the book, "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" by Weston A. Price, D.D.S., ISBN 0879838167. Dr. Price traveled the world in the 1920's and 1930's to compare the health differences between isolated and modernized societies and tribes. He absolutely proved that excessive carbohydrates caused their decline in health while the healthy diet of the isolated groups was very high in fats and animal products. Dr. Price lived in that time period and studied the Indians directly to obtain factual data. Mr. Pool is just making up things to fit his premise.

The best book about fat in the diet is "Know Your Fats" by Mary G. Enig, Ph.D. Dr. Enig correctly describes how dietary fats are necessary for good health and are not the cause of obesity.

Other very good books which accurately describe why people gain weight and how they can loose the weight without harsh low calorie diets are:

Syndrome X by Jack Challem, Burton Berkson, M.D. and Melissa Diane Smith
Protein Power by Dr. Michael R. Eases and Dr. Mary Dan Eades
Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Dr. Robert C. Atkins

Don't buy Robert Pool's book unless you enjoy reading fiction.

Good summary of research on obesity
Robert Pool's Fat: Fighting the Obsesity Epidemic is a very accessible review of research on obesity.He covers the history of obesity research and explains how various research studies have influenced attitudes towards obesity and how to treat it.Contrary to what another review states, this book is not based on the premise that leptin is the cause of obesity.This was merely an illustration of current research that Pool uses to open the book.

Fat is not a guide to weight loss for individuals.The research is very discouraging for anyone currently obese -- most studies show that weight can be lost, but no one knows how to help people keep it off.However, Pool discusses some of the research that investigates why people cannot keep off weight they lose, including studies demonstrating that those who lose wait not only have slightly slower metabolisms, but they also burn fewer calories through fidgeting, etc.

Pool also discusses obesity from a public health perspective.Given that losing weight and keeping it off is so difficult once one becomes obese, he argues that some effort should be paid to keeping the population from becoming obese in the first place.In this discussion, he looks at studies examining when and how various populations became obese.Such studies -- like that of the obesity difference between Pima groups in the US and Mexico -- provide clues for how the current environment could be modified to prevent some obesity. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of essays examines obesity not as an objective medical or psychological problem, but as a subjective social and cultural phenomenon. The contributors take a cross-cultural perspective, examining both the negative casting of obesity in developed countries and the traditional view of obesity as a positive characteristic in subsistence societies which is threatened by the dominance of Western culture. ... Read more