- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Allen Lane; First UK Edition edition (5 Jun 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0713997397
- ISBN-13: 978-0713997392
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 13.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
271,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #94 in Books > Science & Nature > Food & Farming > Food Science
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Product Description
Product Description
America is suffering an epidemic of obesity and we are fast catching up. The challenge to the US food industry in the 1970s was that their population was growing more slowly than their food supply. The answer was supersized portions, fast food, too little exercise, take-aways, the constant drip-feed of saturated fat and sugar, producing a society in which 61 per cent of the population is overweight. Heart disease, cardiovascular problems, strokes and above all diabetes are the result. This is an account of the history and biology of the fattening of America at the moment when it is emerging as a political issue too.
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First Sentence
EARL BUTZ, nominated by Richard Nixon in 1971 to be the eighteenth secretary of agriculture, conjured the airs of a courtly midwestern grandfather, the kind who liked to show up at Sunday dinner, give the blessing, lecture the grandchildren about patriotism, free trade, the goodness of farm life, and the evils that threatened such a life - and then go out to the backyard and tell off-color jokes to the assembled adults. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
EARL BUTZ, nominated by Richard Nixon in 1971 to be the eighteenth secretary of agriculture, conjured the airs of a courtly midwestern grandfather, the kind who liked to show up at Sunday dinner, give the blessing, lecture the grandchildren about patriotism, free trade, the goodness of farm life, and the evils that threatened such a life - and then go out to the backyard and tell off-color jokes to the assembled adults. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fat is a three letter word...,
This review is from: Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World (Paperback)
The author has come in for a lot of flack from fat-activists and others in the united states and elsewhere for a very simple reason. 'Fat Land' may explore all the issues - political, social, economic, historical - that have contributed to the staggering rise in obesity amongst Americans but he never fails to make one point abundantly clear. People get fat when they eat and drink more calories than they expend. Pretty simple equation really. Most of the critics of this book appear never to have read further than the first chapter in which Critser explains how he came to realise that he was too fat and what he could do about it. As a well-to-do white male with access to good medical care and the time and encouragement to exercise (and access to somewhere to perform said exercise) he lost weight. But if its that easy, why are so many Americans getting and staying bigger?This is an excellent book that answers those questions examining the changes in agricultural policies that lead to the adoption of fructose and palm oil in convenience foods, how those portions got bigger to attract more customers, how fast food chains and soda drink suppliers have set up shop in underfunded schools - computers for calories - how physical education consists of more time spent changing than playing in some schools, that parks and municipal sports facilities are few and far between in the areas that need them most, that simple things like walking to work are impossible in the average American city - there are no sidewalks - and that ultimately, its expensive to be thin. This is an engaging, entertaining book that pulls no punches in describing the costs in both human and financial terms caused by obesity that are only likely to escalate. Critser has written a brave riposte to a society that pushes self-confidence, self-esteem, self-absorption, self-celebration and self-denial. Sorry guys, fat is a three letter word.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant as incentive to assist a new way of eating...,
By
This review is from: Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World (Paperback)
This book is a great read and I agree with the previous 2 reviewers but the thing I found truly brilliant about it, was the psychological effect it had on me. Reading a few pages a day was sufficient to 'nudge' me into starting and continuing to eat healthily, as its message about junk food and similar comes through loud and clear. If someone else can benefit like I have from a book like this, then it's got to be a good thing.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing held back in this frightening look at obesity,
By
This review is from: Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World (Paperback)
Having seen a couple of scary documentaries about the obesity epidemic, I was interested to read Critser’s take on what the causes are, who can be blamed, and what can be done.Critser focusses his attention initially to the cultural revolution in the 1970s and 80s which he sees as being the underlying cause of how the huge increase in calories basically got into the human diet – he is open and honest in his blame for government officials who with hindsight put their priorities in the wrong place and turned a blind eye to what would be considered now to be detrimental to society. Critser then explains a little more of the science involved in the human body, what causes calories to stay, and of course the side-effects associated to obesity. Finally he focusses on what can be done now to tackle obesity and highlights some of the problems in society and in particular schools where excuses are being made to avoid tacking the key problems head on. Throughout the book, Critser does not hold back.. he says exactly what he thinks needs to be done and paints a frightening picture for the life expectancy of the next generation of American society. An excellent albeit somewhat frightening read.
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