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

Product Description
100 Questions & Answers About Your Child s Obesity gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about childhood obesity. Topics include treatment options, medication, prevention, sources of support, and coping strategies -- for both parents and caregivers. This book is an invaluable resource for understanding and coping with the medical, psychological, and emotional aspects of a child with obesity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Information on the causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis for childhood obesity
It is commonly acknowledge as a general premise that we are facing an epidemic of childhood obesity in this country. The speculated causes of this growing phenomenon range from fast food to sedentary recreations. The consequences are often serious with respect to the physical and emotional well-being of obese children. The collaborative work of the medical team of Barton Cobert and Josiane Cobert, "100 Questions & Answers About Your Child's Obesity" is a 190-page compendium of basic information on the causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis for childhood obesity. Informed and informative, "100 Questions & Answers About Your Child's Obesity" is superbly organized and thoroughly 'reader friendly', making it an invaluable addition to community library Health/Medicine reference collections, as well as the personal reading list of any parent having to deal with childhood obesity. ... Read more

Product Description

"The evergreen subject of American gluttony and sloth brings out the best in scientist-advocates, and the authors, while drawing on a mountain of statistics and studies, make their indictment both funny and appalling."
--Publishers Weekly

"Brownell and Horgen uncover some of America's biggest diet hazards and how to avoid them."
--Self magazine

"This is a fascinating, empowering must-read filled with practical ways to take action."
--Shape magazine

"Food Fight is . . . an important contribution to the discourse around the obesity epidemic. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to learn more about the role of the food industry, and especially to public health advocates looking for clearly presented research and ideas for positive change."
--Michele Simon, founder and director of the Center for Informed Food Choices

Customer Reviews (17)

They know their stuff, but not presented the best
This book is more about the "Duh", and less about the interesting insight as to WHAT is in our food, which is what I was hoping to learn about.I wanted to know the "inside story of the food industry" - essentially, what exactly is in the food, how is it processed, what are its effects, etc. etc.

If you've seen the movie "Food, Inc.", that is more of what I wanted.I suppose I should buy the book that goes along with that movie. =)

This book was basically a regurgitation of the obvious state of the country...and a long one.Yes - people are fat b/c they eat too much and don't exercise at all anymore.It is heavily focused on obesity in children, which makes sense, because that is where it seems to start these days.

Practical
This is more of a practical manual on how to get some change done than a page turner meant for entertainment.I laud the authors for this, but for those of us who don't have time to get out and become community organizers, I think other books offer the same expose.

Some good information but they miss the mark
There's some very good research revealed in this book however the authors ignore (or simply don't know) the true to the culprit of obesity.... processed carbohydrates. They are right on track with corporate America's involvement with our obesity epidemic however they believe fat and calories play a role in body fat...they don't. I lost 70lbs in 3 months consuming 4000-5000 calories a day, 400 fat grams per day. I simply avoided man altered carbs (not natural carbs).

Bite-Sized Solutions to a Super-Sized Problem
After reading the first few chapters of Food Fight, I thought "same old stuff." Americans are too fat, eat a poor diet, don't get enough exercise, what else is new.

After a few more chapters, I became overwhelmed with the magnitude of the problem. The fast food companies and agribusiness corporations are too powerful, health care organizations are not really interested in solving the problem, and even the schools are inundated with Channel One advertising and contracts from soft drink companies. How on earth can we even begin to address this problem? Is there any hope?

Then Brownell gets into solutions. Of course the individual needs to take responsibility and eat less, eat better, and exercise more. But communities need to demand changes, such as limits on what kind of advertising the kids see while they are in school, classes (for kids and adults) on nutrition and exercise, neighborhood walking and bicycle paths in safe places. And governments should be involved as well, providing national ad spots about health and fitness, perhaps using the anti-tobacco campaigns as a guideline.

Brownell discusses the solutions in the last part of the book, then ends with a handy summary of recommended actions. What starts as a rather depressing book turns out to be a positive, optimistic look at what we can do at different levels to tackle a growing problem.

It's not my fault, save the children and other clichés
I've read both the book and the reviews, and it's funny how saving the children is the "it's not my fault" finger-pointing device du jour. I don't purport to be a cross-section of America, but I have no problems getting my toddlers out of a grocery store without their Sponge-Bob cereal (my wife is a different story...she loves the stuff) and can drive by a McDonalds while ignoring the shrieks of "we want a happy meal!"

However, I am overweight. I don't blame Kraft or McDonalds (although I wouldn't mind getting in on that cash cow once the lawsuits hit), I can perfectly well on my own decide to down the entire bag of Oreos without a 30-second ad telling me to.

Mr. Brownell's anecdotal descriptions of the effects of advertising on obesity do not create any link. As a matter of fact (forget citation of study...but could look it up if anyone wants it) the amount of calories consumed by the average person has increased about 1% over the last 20 years, while the obesity rate has soared. So...somehow the food industry has been plotting against my children by adding 400% more calories into that 1%? It doesn't make sense, as do most of the arguments in the book.
... Read more

Product Description
Obesity is a major problem facing doctors in the 21st century. This third edition of a highly-respected textbook combines the latest in clinical research with a practical approach to guide the successful evaluation, management and treatment of the obese patient including the large number of complications and other conditions that can arise as a consequence of it.

Written by experts from around the globe, this book is a truly international work recognizing that the approach for the treatment and management of obesity may vary between differing ethnicities and in different countries. The book addresses obesity and its social and cultural aspects, biology, associated diseases, life stages (pediatric and adult), management, and environmental policy approaches in six sections.  As well as covering the latest approaches to treatment of obesity, Clinical Obesity in Adults and Children considers the effects of the environment, of gender and of culture on this problem. 

This is an invaluable resource for all health care professionals, research scientists and public health practitioners involved in the prevention and care of patients who are at risk of obesity or are already obese. ... Read more

Product Description
Over the years, approaches to obesity prevention and treatment have gone from focusing on genetic and other biological factors to exploring a diversity of diets and individual behavior modification interventions anchored primarily in the power of the mind, to the recent shift focusing on societal interventions to design "temptation-proof" physical, social, and economic environments.In spite of repeated calls to action, including those of the World Health Organization (WHO), the pandemic continues to progress.WHO recently projected that if the current lifestyle trend in young and adult populations around the world persist, by 2012 in countries like the USA, health care costs may amount to as much as 17.7% of the GDP.Most importantly, in large part due to the problems of obesity, those children may be the first generation ever to have a shorter life expectancy than that of their parents.

This work presents the most current research and proposals for addressing the pandemic.Past studies have focused primarly on either genetic or behavioral causes for obesity, however today's research indicates that a strongly integrated program is the best prospect for success in overcoming obesity.Furthermore, focus on the role of society in establishing an affordable, accessible and sustainable program for implementing these lifestyle changes is vital, particularly for those in economically challenged situations, who are ultimately at the highest risk for obesity.

Using studies from both neuroscience and behavioral science to present a comprehensive overview of the challenges and possible solutions, The brain-to-society approach to obesity prevention focuses on what is needed in order to sustain a healthy, pleasurable and affordable lifestyle.

* Explores the "brain-to-society" approach to obesity prevention, focusing on an integrative approach to addressing the obesity pandemic
* Presents both the nueroscientific and the behavioral factors that impact eating habits
* Identifies the challenges and suggests solutions for altering attitudes toward food on both an individual and a societal level ... Read more

Product Description
Obesity is one of the most important contributing factors to disease throughout the world and is an area of great current interest among researchers and clinicians. The genetics of common obesity is complex, and an important thread through this labyrinth is the study of genetic syndromes in which obesity is a major component. By examining the genetic mechanisms of obesity in these syndromes, the authors will shed new light on the genetics of common obesity. This is the first book on this important and exciting new area and addreses both the molecular and clinical features of the obesity syndromes, providing hard-core information for researchers and practical guidelines for clinicians caring for obese patients.
The book is divided into three sections: the first covers approaches for assessing and investigating the obese individual; the second describes nondysmorphic, monogenic forms of obesity; and the third documents key, multisystem obesity syndromes with various genetic etiologies. It is as much a reference book as it is a manual and will appeal to clinical geneticists, obesity researchers, endocrinologists, nutritionists, and medical biologists. ... Read more

Product Description
Luke likes food a little too much. He wants to eat everything. When will he stop? Join Luke on this rhyming adventure as he learns the importance of good food and exercise. The bright colorful illustrations and easy to read text make this book fun and educational for both preschoolers and beginning readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Cheerful, cartoony illustrations help bring home the point in this invaluable and positive-minded book
Too Much is a children's picturebook about the importance of restraining one's appetite and eating a healthy balanced diet. Simple rhyme brings home a message that all children need to learn as early as possible, especially in today's modern era of rising child obesity rates. "Your body will love you, be healthy and strong, / If you feed it wisely you'll never go wrong. // Let's not forget some things that are fun. / But, remember, nothing should be overdone." Cheerful, cartoony illustrations help bring home the point in this invaluable and positive-minded book highly recommended for both children's library and children's private collections.

Easy & Fun Read on Children's Health
The book is colorful and easy to read. I would recommend it to anyone who has children and wants to teach them the importance of healthy choices.

Great Educational Tool to Help Tackle Childhood Obesity!
"Too Much" is a great tool for parents and teachers alike in the fight against childhood obesity. The book is colorful and easy to read. Not only does it warn against the dangers of laziness or eating too much, it also gives children fun ideas on how to improve their health & try new activities. "Too Much" is a great asset for every home or classroom! ... Read more

Product Description
In the popular Q and A format of the Your Questions Answered series, this book provides succinct, expert information on obesity, and is the first to bring together all the different aspects of obesity from the primary care clincian's point of view. The authors, Dr Ian Campbell and Dr David Haslam, both of the National Obesity Forum, are practising GPs with a special interest in obesity and overweight management. With an emphasis on evidence-based, up-to-date knowledge, the authors discuss issues such as the costs of obesity to society and the individual, the role of lifestyle and drug therapies, surgical management and possible future developments. They also address many questions asked about obesity by other physicians, practice and community nurses, medical students and trainees, and indeed patients. Some frequently asked patient questions, in non-medical language, are included, and there is a list of sources of further information and patient support. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing together the international evidence for environmental explanations of rising obesity rates in the developed world this book examines the many ways in which the contexts in which people live their lives promote an imbalance of energy intake over energy expenditure. Whilst it focuses on the environmental or geographical explanations of the 'obesity epidemic', it also demonstrates the importance of multidisciplinary thinking by calling upon the expertise of geographers, nutritionists, epidemiologists, sociologists and public health researchers engaged in obesity-related research. ... Read more

Product Description
The first cognitive-behavioral treatment manual for obesity, this volume presents an innovative therapeutic model currently being evaluated in controlled research at Oxford University. From leading clinical researchers, the approach is specifically designed to overcome a major weakness of existing therapies: posttreatment weight regain. The book details powerful ways to help patients not only to achieve weight loss, but also to modify the problematic cognitions that undermine long-term weight control. Drawing on strategies proven effective with such problems as binge eating, the manual contains everything needed to implement the treatment: intervention guidelines, case examples, and reproducible handouts and forms.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

almost all we need
As a pediatrician involved with the problem of obesity (and finishing my specialization on the issue), I found that this book came as a possible solution to my concerns. It adresses every necessary steps in managing obese patients in a concise form and approaches important questions as body image, traps to avoid, long-term maintenance of weight (the most important point of treatment, emphasized by the authors), etc. All without drugs, which is a differential in this kind of treatment. And thoug the book doesn't mention treatment in pediatric patients, many of their lessons would apply for this age group (or, at least, the adolescents). There's only one weak point: in the beginning of the book, patients are instructed to count calories meticulously (they are even compelled to buy a kitchen scale). Afterwards, they are supposed to "forget the obsession" with the same calories! (almost like teaching a child to ride a bike and then taking it away for her for good). Even so, I think that it's a worthy piece.

A practical book for CBT for obesity problem.
This book is excellent in presenting the CBT program for obesity problem in step-by-step manual style.Such materials are practical and useful for individual or group work. ... Read more

Product Description
Understanding the complex factors contributing to the growing childhood obesity epidemic is vital not only for the improved health of the world's future generations, but for the healthcare system. The impact of childhood obesity reaches beyond the individual family and into the public arenas of social systems and government policy and programs. Global Perspectives on Childhood Obesity explores these with an approach that considers the current state of childhood obesity around the world as well as future projections, the most highly cited factors contributing to childhood obesity, what it means for the future both for children and society, and suggestions for steps to address and potentially prevent childhood obesity.

Features:

1. This book will cover the multi-faceted factors contributing to the rapidly growing childhood obesity epidemic.

2. The underlying causes and current status of rapidly growing obesity epidemic in children in the global scenario will be discussed.

3. The strategies for childhood obesity prevention and treatment such as physical activity and exercise, personalized nutrition plans and school and community involvement will be presented.



Benefits:

1. A comprehensive and concise book addressing the global epidemic of childhood obesity targeted for nutritionists, dieticians, medical and health professionals, educators and scientists.

2. The strategies for childhood obesity prevention and treatment such as physical activity and exercise, personalized nutrition plans and school and community involvement will be presented.

3. The impact and its consequences of this ongoing epidemic on individual family and community as a whole will be addressed.

... Read more

Product Description
Despite adults’ best preventive efforts, childhood obesity is on the rise in most areas of the world, and with it the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other formerly adult-onset conditions. Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents takes the global ecological approach that is needed to understand the scope of the problem and its multiple causes and mechanisms, and to aid in developing more effective prevention and intervention programs. In the book’s first half, experts present a descriptive summary of youth obesity trends in ten world regions, broken down by age group, gender, socioeconomic status, and risk factors. Complementing these findings, part two reviews the evidence base regarding the variables, separately and in combination, having the most significant impact on young people’s development of obesity, including:• Genetic and nutrigenomic factors.• Environmental and psychosocial factors, such as family shopping and eating habits and access to healthful foods.• Neuroendocrine regulation.• Prenatal and neonatal factors (e.g., gestational diabetes of the mother).• Dietary factors, from nutrient content to young people’s food preferences.• Physical activity versus sedentary behavior.Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents is necessary reading for the range of professionals involved in curtailing this epidemic, including public health specialists, epidemiologists, pediatricians, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, health educators, and policymakers. ... Read more

Product Description
Few Americans are aware that obesity contributes to 300,000 deaths a year in America. Now medical journalist Michael Fumento--himself a veteran of the diet wars--turns his searing eye to the institutions, corporations, and individuals whose quick-fix weight-loss programs misinform the public while feeding a multibillion dollar industry.

Scouring thousands of scientific studies and interviewing dozens of health experts, Fumento exposes the diet industry for what it is, explodes the myths of genetics and low metabolism, and dismisses the low-fat-food fib, showing how "lite" is loaded with unwanted calories and "non-fat" makes us fatter. Most important, he offers honest, healthy, and helpful information about how important it is to lose excess weight, and how to keep it off forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Obviously the author hates fat people
I wasn't even through the introduction when the author equated thin with handsome.The rest is just another rant on how fat people can't be healthy or beautiful. The author is just another self-hating former fat person, without a dose of reality in his work.

Order from the legitimate listing, not this one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670870595/sr=8-1/qid=1186948248/ref=olp_product_details/104-1050671-3624762?ie=UTF8&qid=1186948248&sr=8-1&seller=
Dozens of copies of this book are available (many for a penny) at the legitimate listing page at the above link.
In general, be very cautious ordering products where there is only one on offer.Keep searching Amazon and you will often find the right listing where more scrupulous sellers compete with one another to the benefit of buyers.
Unscrupulous sellers violate Amazon policy and create new listings so that they can sell their product at a much higher price than others are charging elsewhere.

Very shady and one sided
On page 12 Fumento responds to Gaesser's claim that being overweight offers benefits for lung cancer and breast cancer victims (Gaesser claims the overweight and obese fare better with breast and lung cancer). Fumento's retort is that being obese increases risk. However, Fumento says that `those who are 40% overweight have a higher risk of dying of cancer'. Gaesser never mentioned those who are 40% overweight, he mentioned those who had BMIs in the 28+ range, being 40% overweight requires a BMI of 35 or higher and only 8% of the American public has a BMI of 35 or higher, while about 57% of the public has a BMI of 25-35. Someone who didn't read between the lines and both books would think Fumento had disproven Gaesser's claim. Fumento did not; he just focused on the 8% of extremely obese Americans and ignored the 55% of moderately overweight/obese Americans that Gaesser was referring to. Fumento distorted what Gaesser said, he didn't disprove it. Fumento has a pattern of doing this in his book, passing off the health risks of those who are `40% overweight' as a health risk of obesity for various other issues. This is unfair as 89% of those labeled overweight are not 40% overweight, and these health effects do not apply to them. Someone who isn't critical and who doesn't read both sides of the story wouldn't catch onto that subtle tactic. Whenever you read the term `40% overweight' in this book, realize only 1/8th of overweight people are that heavy, and for 89% of overweight people that risk doesn't apply to them.

Fumento claims obesity is tied to increased risk of birth defects. However the studys he used found that 0.2% of ideal weight women had NTD birth defects, and 0.4% of overweight and obese women had NTD birth defects. This is a statistically insignificant increase as 3-4% of all births involve some kind of birth defect, and the authors of one of the study admitted they didn't know what caused it or if weight loss would prevent it. By contract alcohol consumption can increase birth defects by several hundred percent.

On page 168 Fumento addresses Glenn Gaesser's claim that weight loss is unhealthy and can increase death risks. Fumento's retort is that `this could be due to the fact that weight loss is unintentional, as if a result of cancer or heart disease, giving a higher death rate for those who lose weight'. He leaves the argument at that as if he solved it and moved onto something else. However Gaesser addresses this claim five pages into chapter 7 (the chapter in question) under the heading `unintentional weight loss cannot explain findings' by showing several studies, one of which involved close to a million people and was sponsored by the ACS showing intentional weight loss was dangerous and increased mortality risks by 7-167% even when disease is factored out. Fumento either quit reading Gaesser's book 5 pages into the chapter or withheld info from his readers because if they learned this info they might disagree with his conclusions and because he couldn't disprove Gaesser's claims intellectually. Suffice it to say, Fumento literally ignored hundreds of scientific studies on obesity and health that didn't support his claims when he wrote this book, probably because he couldn't counter most of them (when he does counter them he sometimes uses subtle manipulations like the `40% overweight' one I listed above, or relying on statistically insignifigant effects from obesity like the NTD birth defects tactic). That isn't slander either but anyone who reads this book (and this book alone) will have no idea what the medical literature actually says as endless studies are not covered in this book since they disagree with Fumento.

Fumento holds up the Mexican Pima as an example of nurture trumping nature since the Pima are genetically prone to obesity. Even though the Mexican Pima are thinner, they still have a borderline overweight BMI of 24.9 on average (the men are overweight by BMI standards on average). They also have a 13% obesity rate (similar to Canada's) and a diabetes rate of 6-11% (higher than Americas). They also are probably stunted (stunting is a medical term meaning malnutrition makes you shorter) since according to Fumento's BMI and weight statistics they are roughly 2" shorter than the Arizona Pima. They also have a life expectancy of 40 compared to the Arizona Pima's 67. They are not a good example of lifestyle overcoming genetics, being 20-30% thinner in exchange for a lifestyle of being poor, stunted and having a life expectancy 27 years shorter isn't worth it. Despite their high fiber diet and endless exercise the Mexican Pima still have a high obesity rate anyway, but they die far too young for any studies to be run on how their long term health compares to the Arizona Pima.

I could point out endless other examples of this kind of shady conduct, but my entire review already has 1800 words to it, there is not enough room to disprove everything.

Fumento generally can't hold his own in debates on the health effects of obesity from what I've seen. I have seen Paul Campos and Sandy Szwarc (critics of the obesity war) disprove most of his claims, while he was by and large unable to disprove any of their claims during debates.If you look at Amazon's reviews for Campos's book `the obesity myth' you'll see several references to Fumento making 1 star reviews, but no 1 star reviews by Fumento are seen in the 47 reviews. What happened was when the book first came out Fumento made several 1 star reviews filled with very weak science (the nurses study IIRC) showing obesity was dangerous. These claims were disproven pretty thoroughly in Campos's book a few pages into chapter 1 and the reviews disappeared. Either Fumento deleted his own reviews since his science was so weak as to be an embarrassment or Amazon did since he was using multiple handles, I don't know which.

Obesity is correlated with several unhealthy behaviors and characteristics. Those in the lowest economic quintile (10k income) have twice the obesity rates of those in the highest (80k). Obesity is also correlated with a low fiber diet, lack of education, sleep deprivation, physical inactivity, binge drinking, being an ethnic minority, yo yo dieting and chronic stress. It also results in endless medical and social discrimination. A good deal of the health effects of obesity are tied into these things and not the fat cells themselves. Anyone can tell you that a poor person, who eats a low fiber diet, is non white, has no education and is mistreated by the medical profession and society at large will be sicker than someone who isn't. However this person is also several times more likely to be obese, so we don't know for sure how much of their health effects are due to being fat, and how many are due to things associated with being fat. That's not to say fat cells have no health effects, but we don't know for sure how much of the problem is due to the fat cells themselves. Correlation is not causation, as Fumento himself points out in his book bioevolution.

Even if obesity is a major health threat and has been increasing rapidly in the last 20 years, it is not the only health threat that has been growing that cuts into life expectancy. The latest study on obesity and life expectancy shows roughly a 4-9 month decrease in life expectancy (the author, Allison, claimed 2-5 years in his paper, but when pressed admitted that was not really a reliable figure, it is closer to 4-9 months). Studies have shown married men live on average 5 years longer than single men. Homosexuals have been shown to die 20 years earlier than straight people. Children of divorce live on average 4 years less than children of parents who stay together. Devoutly religious people live on average 6 years longer than atheists. The rates of agnosticism/atheist, divorce, the single life and tolerance for homosexuality has also gone up dramatically in the last 20 years. The reality is a fat straight man lives longer than a thin gay man, a fat religious devout lives longer than a thin atheist, a fat married man lives longer than a thin single man, and a fat child of non divorced parents lives longer than a thin child of divorced parents. Shall we start nagging the public to marry, not divorce, adopt Christianity and condemn homosexuality in the name of health? No, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Why condemn obesity so harshly but allow all these other traits to prosper? Who makes the rules over what lifestyles we are allowed to condemn and which we are not? Why should I give Fumento a 5 star review for condemning the health effects of obesity by using insults and harassment if I can't force my neighbor to convert to Christianity to add 6 years to his life? Who draws that line in the sand saying one attempt to force lifestyle changes for health is ok but another isn't? You can't do nothing about health, but who draws that line in the sand?

Despite the dire predictions of obesity killing hundreds of thousands of people from cancer, diabetes & cardiovascular disease (the 300k figure refers to these 3 diseases) during the obesity epidemic (1990-today) the rates for cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes complications have dropped dramatically in the last 15 years. Even if large fat cells in and of themselves is a major threat (which is not very well proven if you actually read the literature), medical care is advancing so rapidly to make the health effects will be minor. During the obesity epidemic (aka 1990-today) complications rates from diabetes dropped by 60% due to better education and medicine despite the predictions of everyone dying of diabetes from being too fat. Cancer rates have dropped by 0.5-1% a year since 1990, cardiovascular death rates are down 27% since 1990. These dire '300k' predictions are based on the assumption taht we do nothing about our health. The reality is even basic preventative medicine will compensate for the dangers of obesity. Claiming obesity kills '300k a year' is like claiming bacterial infections kill 100 million a year. They would, if we did absolutely nothing about them. But basic preventitive measures like sanitation cut the death risk by 99%. Suffice it to say during the obesity epidemic complication and disease rates fell. Being fat is only one of hundreds of factors when it comes to cardiovascular disease and cancer, and it is actually one of the weakest that is also the hardest to change. According to the ACS 60% of cancer deaths could be avoided with exercise, good diet, proper screening and smoking cessation. If we took the mental energy and economic funds we spend trying to lose weight for health reasons and instead used them to encourage people to do these four things instead we'd literally save half a million lives a year from cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease because we devoted our energy to something more productive. Anyone gets their info from Fumento and Fumento alone wouldn't know that his advice is among the weakest and least effective ways to improve health. PS, eating health and exercising are not guaranteed to lead to substantial weight loss, only calorie restriction is guaranteed to do that. They are not the same thing.

I'd also like to know Fumento' response to the latest CDC report on obesity. The latest report found that a BMI of 25-30 was healthier than a BMI of 18.5-25 (this was after pre-existing diseases were factored out), that mortality from obesity doesn't become major issue until BMI hits 35 (only 1/8th of overweight people have a BMI of 35 or more, the 90% of overweight people actually have lower mortality than those in the 18-25 range when taken as a whole) and that the ties between death and weight were statistically insignificant since they had a correlation of less than 2 (2 is the cutoff for statistical significance, the ties were 0.8-1.7)

However by all means read Fumento's book. Just understand he is to healthcare and obesity what Limbaugh is to politics. His views are biased by personal preference and many are weak and untrustworthy when examined closely. If you read Fumento and Crister, be sure to also read something by Paul Ernsberger, Paul Campos, Glenn Gaesser or Sandy Szwarc. Sandy Szwarc's 11 part special `weighing obesity' at tech central station is a good start, and available online (google the phrase `szwarc mikey doesn't like it' to read it). There are too many holes in Fumento's arguments for me to address them all in a short Amazon review. They'd do a much better job.

That's not to say there are absolutely no health risks of obesity. But the issue is far more complex than the simplistic picture Fumento paints. Anyone who reads this book and reads nothing else before making a decision will be as informed as someone who gets all their info on international politics from Rush Limbaugh.

Important Info re Digital version !
This is an interesting topic, but please be aware that the digital version of this title is only an 11-page article and NOT the entire book.If you want to read the whole thing you'll just have to buy it used or hope it comes back in print!

Agressive, but warranted tone and an excellent read
Fumento's "Fat of The Land" is excellent, as he is realistic about the growing epidemic of obesity in America.Many feel his aggressive tone is unwarranted, but I merely think he is speaking as a medical journalist trying to spread the word to Americans of all the lies and fake diets that are only escalating the problem.And he's trying to help people understand - this is an inexcusable problem.
I simply don't think that he's attacking people's visual looks or trying to intentionally hurt feelings when he attacks obesity.He's merely pointing out how it's NOT okay to accept it, because it is such a health problem in our society, it has approached tobacco as the leading preventable cause of death in America.Instead of forming groups justifying the unhealthiness, we need to be working on how to solve it.
He justifies all of his points well with concrete data.An estimated 600,000 deaths influenced by obesity occurred while he took the two years to write the book.One in ten heart attacks can directly be attributed to obesity alone.
There is quite a bit of data, as he needs to support all of his arguments, yet he writes in a way that is still very readable and enjoyable to page through.He's been there, struggling with his weight for quite some time in his life, so to me its genuine - making it even more readable.
Obesity is drastically reducing the quality and quantity of life in our country today.If you'd like to know more, or if you'd like to read practical solutions, "The Fat of the Land" is the book for you. ... Read more

Product Description

Handbook of Obesity: Clinical Applications, Third Edition is the premier reference for physicians and researchers in the field of obesity. Written by leading scientists and clinicians, this handbook offers unparalleled depth and breadth of coverage concerning this growing global and chronic disease that affects and exacerbates comorbid conditions including diabetes and heart disease.

Customer Reviews (2)

[...] Book Review
This text is intended to be a review of the breadth and depth of current research in the area of obesity. This two-volume set easily achieves this goal. Experts in the field of obesity research author the chapters. Overall this text is perfect for anyone who is pursuing research in the area of obesity because it provides in depth and up-to-date information on all areas of obesity research. As an obesity researcher myself, I found the chapters in my specific areas of research (epidemiology, economics, drug therapy, and bariatric surgery) to be informative and accurate. I benefited most from the chapters in other areas of obesity research that I don't often have time to review - pathophysiology, behavioral treatment, and etiology - in my current practice. I would highly recommend this text to other obesity researchers. Looking at this text through eyes of an internal medicine physician, I find that it is a bit long-winded and overly focused on etiology and pathophysiology, with not enough information about how to apply the clinical research to my individual practice.

This text is published in two volumes. The first volume, which focuses on etiology and pathophysiology, is not very useful in practice; the only chapter I believe to be helpful from this volume is Ch. 2 Evaluation of Total and Regional Adiposity (because it gives some practical information about assessing measures of obesity in clinical practice). The second volume, which focuses on clinical applications, is much more useful in clinical practice; and I believe represents very well the most recent evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of medical and surgical treatments for obesity. The chapters here are written by experts in their field and are very well organized. There is a bit of overlap between the chapters on behavioral approaches, exercise, and preventing weight regain; however, this overlap is not excessive.

This text would be useful to physicians in primary care and should required reading for any obesity treatment specialist, including those that are engaged in nutritional, behavioral, pharmacologic, and surgical treatment of obesity. This text should be heavily marketed to groups of clinicians who specialize in the treatment of obesity.

This book comprehensively evaluates the vast evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of obesity, and provides succinct reviews that give the reader a good sense of the complexity of this condition and its complications.

Today's popular culture is obsessed with diets and weight loss options. Too little attention is paid to this issue in this text. The implications of the lack of available evidence on these diets is overlooked. Several of the most recent advances in the dietary treatment are also overlooked. The text on behavioral treatments focuses primarily on the evidence for low-fat diets. Newer evidence on the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets is very compelling, and a chapter dedicated to this area is warranted. Also, a chapter comparing commercial weight loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, etc. is also missing. These issues may not be as rigorously evaluated in the medical literature, but they are very practically relevant to the practicing clinician.

Hand book of obesity
This is must read for all who are struggling with obesity. I orderded for a friend of mine and she likes it. ... Read more

Product Description
Rates of obesity in youth have tripled in the past 20 years. Today it is estimated that over twenty percent of American children and adolescents are overweight. This emerging epidemic has stimulated a great deal of new research into the formative influences and the interpersonal, social and psychological effects of obesity on children. In this thorough and incisive book, editors Leslie Heinberg and J. Kevin Thompson have employed an august group of researchers to describe these trends and to discuss their implications for the assessment, treatment, and prevention of obesity in youth.

The book opens by acquainting readers with key genetic influences and dietary patterns, and later chapters on treatment and prevention are written from medical and public health perspectives. But contributors focus primarily on psychological aspects of obesity such as teasing, body image, and co-morbidity with mental disorders as well as the psychosocial consequences for children, families and the larger society. This wide-ranging volume will be of great use for public and mental health professionals, as well as academics and researchers who seek a fuller understanding of the fight against childhood obesity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Heinberg and Thompson put much professionalism and education to the topic
America's childhood obesity rate has been rising. "Obesity in Youth: Causes, Consequences, and Cures" is a psychological look at the rising rates of obesity not in just America, but throughout the world. These bad habits inflicted upon children when they are young lead to problems later in life, as well as a lifestyle that's hard to kick as an adult. Examining how children get to this point, the importance of understanding genetics and cultural impact, as well as what parents can do to better their children as well as society, Heinberg and Thompson put much professionalism and education to the topic. Enhanced with references for its research, indexes, and more, "Obesity in Youth" addresses the causes, and proposes quite a few solutions.
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Product Description
Overweight kids are seldom heard and poorly understood. This book presents what kids say about being overweight - their stories, struggles, and successes - in their own words. The source is 134,000 messages anonymously posted by overweight kids on website bulletin boards. With stunning honesty these kids share their difficult lives and their frustration with parents and health professionals. The degree to which these kids struggle to lose weight is striking. They turn to food to relieve depression, stress, and boredom. They get hooked on this 'comfort eating' and are unable to stop. They struggle to resist cravings for highly pleasurable food, knowing full well the dreadful effects of weight gain, which points to an addictive-type dependence. Their success stories are inspiring. The book examines what's really causing the childhood obesity epidemic, the 'why now,' and what might be done about it from a treatment, prevention, and policy standpoint. Note: This book is available from Amazon.com only with a black & white interior. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume brings together behavioral, medical, and public health approaches and provides the knowledge necessary for a wide range of practitioners to effectively address the current obesity epidemic among children and adolescents. The book addresses several themes in pediatric and adolescent obesity. Experts in the field discuss the prevalence, etiology, and sequelae of pediatric and adolescent obesity, as well as the medical and behavioral assessment of the overweight child, adolescent, and family. The book offers a comprehensive understanding of the wide range of approaches to pediatric and adolescent obesity treatment, in order to promote an individualized approach that will best fit the patient and family. ... Read more

Product Description
More than 22 million children under five are now obese or overweight. Globally, an estimated 10% of school-aged children, between five and 17 years old, are overweight or obese, and the situation is getting worse. 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 has 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, 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. This book draws together the existing literature and expertise and with a view to helping set the agenda for public health action. The book is divided into three sections. Part 1 provides an overview of the context of the problem. It examines the epidemiology of obesity, the role of behavioural factors, socio-cultural factors and environmental factors in the obesity epidemic. Part 2 reviews interventions across a range of key settings and in different population groups - drawing on existing research that has aimed to increase physical activity, promote healthy eating and prevent obesity at a population level. Given how little research there is that has specifically examined the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing obesity per se, Part 3 explores potential opportunities to prevent obesity ... Read more

Product Description
Is your child overweight? One third of American children are and their lives will be shorter and not as healthy as yours. Are you worried about your child's health but don't know what to do?

The No-Diet Obesity Solution for Kids will help you get started. Dr. Miriam Vos, a nationally known pediatric gastroenterologist, has cared for many children facing liver disease, diabetes, and other serious health issues because of obesity. She has seen the healing power of three research-supported changes: reducing sugar, increasing activity, and preparing family meals at home. In this practical and positive guide for parents, Dr. Vos tells you how to change the habits that many families have slipped into and gives you specific ways to improve your child s health without diets, guilt trips, or power struggles.

This book has answers for your questions and success stories to share, plus more than 60 kid-friendly recipes, many contributed by professional chefs concerned about the childhood obesity epidemic. If you've tried diets, now try a way of living: The No-Diet Obesity Solution for Kids. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent Source of Information
I have lost 25 pounds myself and my daughter has lost 16 since we got the book and started with some of the recipes and healthier methods given by the book. No more frying for one.We have all but cut out beef, white flour & pasta, white and potato bread.There are some oatmeal pancakes as part of the recipes that the kids actually love.We get out as a family and exercise - be it the park or just racing to the corner - cut tv time down and dance more around the house.We have been on a roll.And the best part is they don't even realize that I have changed so much.

A new approach to weight loss for children: teach them good health habits that they will keep for the rest of their lives
Diets are notoriously ineffective, so why do we rely on them so much to fight obesity? "The No-Diet Obesity Solution for Kids" offers a new approach to weight loss for children: teach them good health habits that they will keep for the rest of their lives. Valuing exercise, moderation, and home cooking over diet foods and crunching calories, "The No-Diet Obesity Solution for Kids" may just be what parents need to manage their children's weight, and possibly their own weight as well!

As a mother and a nurse
"I enjoyed the time I have spent with The No-Diet Obesity Solution for Kids. Dr. Vos gives great practical advice and starting points for many families facing the growing issue of overweight kids--with a realistic dose of consequences that are in store for all people and families if the obesity epidemic is not met head on by committed participants. I agree with the importance of spending a great deal of time with my children, playing, being outside, exercising, and cooking. I really liked the chapter on the "The Hard Facts of Being Overweight." Too many shy away from telling the truth to patients and families, and we are doing them no favor by sugar-coating an already obvious problem. I really was drawn to the chapters on getting started together, raising active children and teens, and the 3 Ps and 3 Cs. I liked the recipes and snack ideas, too.
Dr. Vos does not judge or blame; she merely holds up a mirror and allows people the opportunity to evaluate for themselves what will work and what won't. She reminds us that parents need to be involved and that children will do what you do and not what you say. Parents may want the best for their children, but kids also want what's best for their parents, so the inclusion of the family unit is necessary for success. This book makes that point very well.
Dr. Vos does not give just one suggestion, but many, and encourages families to find their own path. Health and life are flexible and fluid, so families must be the same, and families dealing with concerns or issues need options. This book is a great place to begin and does not leave anyone out with the types of suggestions and information provided."
As a mother of two and an RN - I can say that we need more of this literature in the market.

an answer to many prayers
This book is not just for parents of overweight kids--it has something for every parent. In a culture where food ads zero in on children and one in three children is caught in the epidemic of obesity, parents are beginning to realize that they have to do more to keep their children healthy. But what? This book shows the way, whether you have a brand new baby or are looking eye to eye with a teenager. Through stories and examples, this book tells you how to read standard growth charts and apply them to your own child's growth. It tells you which part of the food label to focus on, and why you should buy foods that don't have labels. The book shows you how to organize family meals so you can fit homemade goodness into your busy schedule--and provides recipes, too.

The author, a doctor who actually does all of the things she asks her patients to do, provides a calm viewpoint on family matters, with insights about the value of going outside to play and sharing family dinnertime so that everyone in the family is truly nourished. I wish I'd had this book years ago when my children were young. I would have loved to avoid some of those mealtime battles. You can be sure that I am going to use these tips and techniques with my grandchildren! ... Read more