In this astonishing expose, journalist Greg Critser looks beyond the sensational headlines to reveal why nearly 60 percent of Americans are now overweight. Critser's sharp-eyed reportage and sharp-tongued analysis make for a disarmingly funny and truly alarming book. Critser investigates the many factors of American life -- from supersize to Super Mario, from high-fructose corn syrup to the high cost of physical education in schools -- that have converged and conspired to make us some of the fattest people on the planet. He also explains why pediatricians are treating conditions rarely before noticed in children, why Type 2 diabetes is on the rise, and how agribusiness has unwittingly altered the American diet.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
A Mixed Bag:
Fat Land is an interesting introduction to the topic of obesity as a public-health issue. The book, however, is very uneven and the author has no promising solutions. At its best, Fat Land is an absorbing look at a critical issue that much of the public refuses to face. The author, Greg Critser, can make esoteric government decisions seem interesting. Some of his anecdotes - such as one about the 698-pound rap star Big Pun - are fascinating. I doubt that many people will walk away from Fat Land totally... more info
an in-depth look at reasons beyond the usual:
As a dietitian, this book fascinates me not only due to the food/nutrition overview of the causes/etiology of obesity, but also the whole story behind the food production in the US. The book provides a historical overview of how high fructose corny syrup became popular as well as speculation on this obesity issue in the US/world. I loved it!
Scary:
This book examines some of the various factors behind the current obesity epidemic in the United States. Critser, who formerly indulged in junk food himself, came to the realization one day that he was fat. He determined to do something about it, and put himself on a strict diet and fitness plan to get back in shape. Along the way, he also decided to investigate not only how he had managed to put on so much weight, but also how his neighbors and their kids had managed to become some of the fattest people on... more info
The New Cultural Obesity:
When I returned from the Peace Corps in Africa to the US the first thing that struck me was how heavy people were. I did not return from a country suffering from famine, the people there were mostly in excellent shape considering their situation and it was the first time I had really noticed with a new perspective how heavy Americans were. This struck again when I had spent some time hiking in the west and returned to the mid west to see the inactive people away from the trails of the national parks were... more info
