Review by Booklist Review
The earth's population keeps getting bigger in absolute numbers as well as in weight and waist size. Obesity has become a global epidemic. The World Health Organization estimates that there will be 2 billion overweight adults by 2015. The Obesity Reality looks at the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and consequences of obesity. For starters, physician Ali points out that the proliferation of fast-food options, the increased number of sedentary jobs, and the abundance of automobiles aren't exactly squelching fatness. Nor are soda, high-fructose corn syrup, and countless hours spent sitting in front of the TV or computer screen. Obesity puts people at risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and even gallstones and gout. Treatments include lifestyle changes, alternative-medicine therapies, prescription and nonprescription medications, and surgical procedures (gastric banding or bypass). Chapters on childhood obesity, blame and guilt, motivational ideas, and obesity's connection with mental health are especially cogent. Although plagued by redundancy, this book is a useful primer. There are no shortcuts for shrinking the problem of obesity.--Miksanek, Tony Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that shows no signs of abating. Ali (Diabetes and You: A Comprehensive, Holistic Approach) offers readers an overview of the history of condition (from the Venus of Willendorf to the Catholic church's stance that obesity was "a punishment for gorgers"), its causes (e.g., sugary drinks), how it affects the health of the individual (e.g., increased risk of heart disease), how it affects society (e.g., taking up more and more of the total US medical expenditures) and how it can be addressed. In examining topics ranging from the role of the food industry, to how gastric bypass surgery works, to appropriate exercise regimens, Ali covers all of obesity's bases (except recipes). However, despite the breadth of this volume, Ali's work functions better as a general survey of what the author asserts is a dangerous disease, rather than an in-depth study of the eating epidemic. Occasionally dubious statistical syllogisms (e.g., noting that the U.S. national average for adult obesity in 1980 was 15%, then asserting that "Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980")-though thoroughly sourced in a detailed notes section-temper what might otherwise be powerful insights into the tipping of the scales. Still, Ali dutifully provides an extensive glossary of relevant terms, and a compendium of resources for folks struggling with obesity and those interested in further reading. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
