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Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World
 
 
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Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World (Paperback)

by Greg Critser (Author) "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..." (more)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Allen Lane (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)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 600,264 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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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
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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
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3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fat is a three letter word..., 25 Mar 2003
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.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant as incentive to assist a new way of eating..., 9 April 2005
By Nothern Climes (Yorkshire, UK.) - See all my reviews
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.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing held back in this frightening look at obesity, 13 Feb 2006
By Darren Simons (Middlesex, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
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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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful exploration of the "Fat Boom" in America
Mr Critser starts his study by explaining that palm oil was introduced in the US in the 1970s, cheaper and tastier than vegetable oil but containing 45 % saturated fat. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2006 by Philippe Horak

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for an important topic.
This is a very read-worthy book, not only does it explain the complexity of the situation, say the way Jumbo Fries and american Health-policy's relate toward each other and... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT READ ON A FAT TOPIC, FROM A NON-NANNY!
Here, at last, is the book I have been waiting for on the obesity epidemic, written in a clear, engaging style. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2004 by HARRY

5.0 out of 5 stars Succinct, straightforward - and damning!
This book covers all the issues surrounding American obesity without getting embroiled in political disputes or trying to massage the facts! Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2003 by N D Lambert

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Just read it last night from cover to cover... could not put it down. Safe to say I will be trying to cut fructose products out of my diet!! Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2003 by Brian Dinneen

4.0 out of 5 stars Land of Gluttons
What this book describes is Americans lost in a wilderness of food outlets while no-one with knowledge and authority dares to tell them, self-indulgent children that they are,... Read more
Published on 28 Jul 2003 by Mrs. J. Strubenclinton

4.0 out of 5 stars Hardback?
Just for everyone's info, the site is wrong: it is a paperback version. 'Fat Land - the Lite version', if you like!
Published on 11 Jul 2003

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