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Fascinating . . . an exploration of us (New York Times )
Disturbing, thought-provoking, and important (Anthony Bourdain, author of 'Kitchen Confidential' )
No ordinary diet book (New Scientist )
The End of Overeating is an invaluable contribution to the national conversation about the catastrophe that is the modern American diet (Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food )
Disturbing, thought-provoking, and important (Anthony Bourdain, author of 'Kitchen Confidential' )
No ordinary diet book (New Scientist )
The End of Overeating is an invaluable contribution to the national conversation about the catastrophe that is the modern American diet (Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food )
Product Description
Uncover the truth behind our food addiction - and learn how to break the cycle
Many of us find ourselves powerless in front of a bag of crisps, a packet of biscuits, the last slice of pizza. Why is it that we simply can't say no?
In The End of Overeating David Kessler, the man who took on the tobacco industry, exposes how modern food manufacturers have hijacked the brains of millions by turning our meals into perfectly engineered portions of fat, salt and sugar, turning us into addicts in the process. The result is a ticking time-bomb of growing obesity, heart conditions and a mass of health problems around the globe.
Examining why we're so often powerless in the face of such food, Kessler reveals how our appetites have been and are increasingly hijacked by hyper-palatable foods that encourage us to keep eating - all the time. With a special focus on the growing problems in the UK and Europe, Kessler lays out a clear plan and vital tools for reclaiming control over our cravings.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a really intelligent book that tackles both the food industry, as well as helping us as individuals tackle our overeating.
David Kessler has got great credentials, and he has obviously has access to extensive research. I was worried that the book might be really scientific, but actually he explained the science in a really clear, approachable way that was perfect for a layperson like me. And what science! Unlike other books about dieting and healthy living, The End of Overeating makes clear that the food industries have rewired our brains to make us more addicted to their food products, and that the blame isn't just with the individual. It's pretty disgusting the stuff they get away with. Pre-masticated food? Gross.
Saying that, Kessler is clear that we can't just wash our hands of the whole business and that we have to take responsibility. As he makes clear, you CAN change your automatic behaviour patterns and a achieve a 'critical perceptual shift' when looking at certain types of food. Just by teaching me what is happening when I look at the biscuits or want to scrape my plate at a restaurant, I feel now that I'm in a much stronger position to reclaim my eating habits before it goes out of control.
David Kessler has got great credentials, and he has obviously has access to extensive research. I was worried that the book might be really scientific, but actually he explained the science in a really clear, approachable way that was perfect for a layperson like me. And what science! Unlike other books about dieting and healthy living, The End of Overeating makes clear that the food industries have rewired our brains to make us more addicted to their food products, and that the blame isn't just with the individual. It's pretty disgusting the stuff they get away with. Pre-masticated food? Gross.
Saying that, Kessler is clear that we can't just wash our hands of the whole business and that we have to take responsibility. As he makes clear, you CAN change your automatic behaviour patterns and a achieve a 'critical perceptual shift' when looking at certain types of food. Just by teaching me what is happening when I look at the biscuits or want to scrape my plate at a restaurant, I feel now that I'm in a much stronger position to reclaim my eating habits before it goes out of control.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
David Kessler has undertaken a personal odyssey to try and understand why he has had difficulty resisting processed foods and controlling his weight like so many in the Western World. He has done a great deal of delving into basic research and attended food industry conferences in his quest. I found the earlier chapters more interesting than the later ones as in the former he reveals just how heedless food manufacturers are of peoples' health: profit and volume sales being the only driving force in their strategies. The food industry seems little different from tobacco industry. Both pretty despicable. There's also a lot of interesting stuff about animal research indicating that junk food is not far short of drugs of addiction in the lengths that rodents will go to eat it.
The later chapters of the book deal more with how to resist the lure of high sugar, salt and fat foods that are the mainstay of evidently irresistible junk food. As someone who has been involved in researching food and physiological responses I felt that his analysis of the available research focused too heavily on the psychological motivations for over-eating and too little on the physiological links between the digestive system and the brain. There are receptors in the digestive system that detect nutrients and send signals to the brain to indicate that food has been consumed and the kind of food. Manufactured foods contain novel fats, for example, not found in natural foods and, as receptors are very specific to the shape of the molecules they monitor, the signal that a load of unnatural fat had arrived in the digestive system would not be registered and the eater may go on eating as the normal satiety signal has not kicked in. A parallel example is the unnatural trans fats created by hydrogenating cheap oils to make solid fats suitable for use in the baking industry instead of butter. These trans fats have led to unexpected damage to the linings of arteries and consequent arteriosclerosis. Never before has the human digestive system had to deal with a relatively huge amounts of sugars found in manufactured foods, especially soft drinks. I recall research done by Professor Garrard in London in which he was trying to load the diets of young men with calories to see what happened to their weight: they couldn't tolerate the extra calories as protein or fat. The only way he could load them with 1000s of extra calories was in the form of liquid sugar: soft drinks in other words.
It's an interesting and at times shocking book, but, sadly, I think the "genie is out of the bottle" in terms of cheap junk foods being so readily available everywhere one goes coupled with a generally more prosperous population such that I fear that obesity will increase and all the consequent morbidity. Maybe legislation is the only answer?
The later chapters of the book deal more with how to resist the lure of high sugar, salt and fat foods that are the mainstay of evidently irresistible junk food. As someone who has been involved in researching food and physiological responses I felt that his analysis of the available research focused too heavily on the psychological motivations for over-eating and too little on the physiological links between the digestive system and the brain. There are receptors in the digestive system that detect nutrients and send signals to the brain to indicate that food has been consumed and the kind of food. Manufactured foods contain novel fats, for example, not found in natural foods and, as receptors are very specific to the shape of the molecules they monitor, the signal that a load of unnatural fat had arrived in the digestive system would not be registered and the eater may go on eating as the normal satiety signal has not kicked in. A parallel example is the unnatural trans fats created by hydrogenating cheap oils to make solid fats suitable for use in the baking industry instead of butter. These trans fats have led to unexpected damage to the linings of arteries and consequent arteriosclerosis. Never before has the human digestive system had to deal with a relatively huge amounts of sugars found in manufactured foods, especially soft drinks. I recall research done by Professor Garrard in London in which he was trying to load the diets of young men with calories to see what happened to their weight: they couldn't tolerate the extra calories as protein or fat. The only way he could load them with 1000s of extra calories was in the form of liquid sugar: soft drinks in other words.
It's an interesting and at times shocking book, but, sadly, I think the "genie is out of the bottle" in terms of cheap junk foods being so readily available everywhere one goes coupled with a generally more prosperous population such that I fear that obesity will increase and all the consequent morbidity. Maybe legislation is the only answer?
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
David Kessler's book is an excellent and invaluable catalogue of thorough study of the subject. Kessler certainly knows his subject and the depth of information, written in an easily understandable way is remarkable. A lot of what he says is right out there in front of our eyes but we just don't see it until it's pointed out to us - Kessler does this well. It is a fascincating read which could change lives. However, the 'Treatment' sections of his book are weak by contrast. He leaves the reader in mid-air, wondering what to do from here. At best there's guidance, at worst he just advises to avoid food (impossible in a Western world) and in one stark sentence of the book prescribes a fairly low amount of calories as a one-size-fits-all remedy which I believe to be very unhelpful. Throw-away one-liners like that (and there are others) spoil an otherwise very credible book. A much better book which gives excellent treatment advice from start to finish whilst incorporating pretty much all the same information as Kessler's is 'Eating Less. Say Goodbye to Overeating' by Gillian Riley. Gillian treats overeating as an addiction which I believe is where Kessler fails in his treatment by skirting round this issue. I would recommend both books, but Gillian Riley's is the only one with treatment that works.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Overcomplicated!
I wanted to like this book but found the author goes on and on repeating the same thing. I had to skim-read a lot of it and found myself thinking "yeah, I get it!". Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Parsons
Excellent book, do not read whilst eating
I read this book in America and it put me off American fast food completely. It is a very well written, clear, concise and damning expose of how the commonly enjoyed fast food... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Silver Surfer
Decent book
Talks through various behind-the-scenes type info on food, the science behind additives in foods and how companies work to create a desire through their products. Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. L. Wilson Bradley
Read if you're serious
This book follows a line of books on why and how we eat for me as I have been trying to tackle my negative eating habits with an all round approach - dieting alone can be... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Chrissi
ok
Well, I did manage to read from end to end, but it is more for the USA market than for here (give it time! Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mw R. Moore
A very good read
A friend recommended this book to me. I must admit I did struggle with some of it as it's rather scientific (reason I'm giving it 4 stars) but I did really enjoy the book and would... Read more
Published 19 months ago by N M
The end of overeating, by David Kessler
Wow, this is me all over, this book has been read over and over again, if i feel i want more i read certain pages again to remind me why i shouldn't go for second helpings. Read more
Published 22 months ago by brijan
Very detailed, not an easy read
I am sure that the book has some really good tips but it isn't an easy read and I have skim read most of it to try and get to the beneficial parts. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mel
The End of Overeating: taking control of our insatiable appetite
The book title may seem a little misleading to anyone thinking they might personally benefit swiftly from the notions set out between its covers. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Mr. F. J. Wallace
A good read but..
... in some parts of the books, a lot of technical scientific jargon is used. It's worth sticking with and learning what the book has to deliver. Read more
Published on 22 May 2010 by P. Jackson
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