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April 17, 2006
"Fat Politics: The Real Story Behind America's Fat Epidemic" by J. Eric Oliver
If you're looking for a dieting how-to, look elsewhere. Fat Politics is about the economic, political and sociological forces behind today's extreme view on body fat. Oliver does not argue that fat is nothing to worry about; he suggests that fat may be a symptom and not a cause of many of the disease which are currently blamed on excess weight. He carefully points out where the holes in the "fat is the ultimate evil" paradigm in which we live. He scrutizes the research behind the current NIH definition of "overweight" and "obese" and finds it wanting. Oliver also takes a very close look at our country's hatred of fatness -a sign of wealth and the power to oppress in earlier eras- and of fat white women -stemming from biological and status-seeking mentalities. This was a fascinating read, especially given the current prevailing attitude towards body weight.
ISBN: 0195169360
Jennifer, Reference
Posted by jnardine at April 17, 2006 02:36 PM