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More About This Textbook
Overview
In this timely and revealing handbook, two of the foremost experts on obesity provide an up-to-date, scientifically accurate, yet accessible study of our current understanding of the causes, consequences, and most effective responses to this persistent health threat.
Obesity: A Reference Handbook helps readers unravel the connections between obesity, genetics, and the environmental and behavioral factors that might exacerbate the condition. It brings together the latest findings from a wide range of recent studies, including those aimed at defining obesity, analyzing diets, and evaluating medication and surgical treatments. The handbook also explores the economic and social ramifications of obesity, covering issues such as weight discrimination and the complex question of how to determine responsibility for prevention and treatment. Readers will also encounter the researchers, businesses, activists, and government agencies working to alleviate obesity in the United States and worldwide.
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
"Obesity discusses all the key issues in the field. Is obesity genetic? Can it be considered a disease? Do
diets work? What about bariatric surgery? The book offers analysis of research and advertisements, and biographies of key figures in the field, scientific and popular. It also provides resources to learn more."
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The Sacramento Bee
"In this reference, Stern and Kazaks, nutrition researchers at the U. of California, Davis, present information on the topic of obesity, including why people gain weight, why they succeed or fail in losing it, and who they believe is responsible. They cover its history, treatments, the controversy over whether it is a disease, healthy weight management, medications, herbs and supplements, surgery, the influence of food advertising, childhood obesity, and recent increases in obesity, and provide short biographies of key individuals, excerpts from documents, and an annotated list of resources and organizations."
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SciTech Book News
"Obesity provides general and basic information that is useful to students and anyone interested in learning more about this disease."
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ARBAonline
"Stern and Kazaks (both affiliated with Univ. of California, Davis) have written extensively on nutrition and weight. Here they lend their expertise to ABC-CLIO's "Contemporary World Issues" series, in a volume they hope will be utilized as the reference book regarding obesity in the United States. There's no question obesity is a big American problem in need of understanding, so the book certainly works as the starting point for interested general audiences. …BOTTOM LINE The arrangement of information into thematic sections rather than alphabetically, as is the case with Facts On Files' Encyclopedia of Obesity and Eating Disorders (2006. 3d ed.), is a more coherent and substantive approach to the material. A good resource for public, school, and undergraduate libraries."
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Library Journal
Library Journal
Stern and Kazaks (both affiliated with Univ. of California, Davis) have written extensively on nutrition and weight. Here they lend their expertise to ABC-CLIO's "Contemporary World Issues" series, in a volume they hope will be utilized as the reference book regarding obesity in the United States. There's no question obesity is a big American problem in need of understanding, so the book certainly works as the starting point for interested general audiences. It's divided into sections dealing with background and history; problems, controversies, and solutions; worldwide perspective; chronology; biographical sketches; data and documents; directory of agencies, programs, and organizations; and selected print and nonprint resources. Extensive reference lists appear at the end of each section. The book discusses the definition, measurement, trends, contributing factors, consequences, and treatment of obesity. The chronology covers related events taking place between 1942 and 2008. An eclectic cast of characters appears in the biography section, including scientists and Hippocrates, as well as Oprah Winfrey, Jared (Subway Diet) Fogle, Jean Craig, and Bill Clinton. This appears to be perhaps the most unfocused section of the book, but it does indicate how obesity has impacted politics and popular culture. BOTTOM LINE The arrangement of information into thematic sections rather than alphabetically, as is the case with Facts On Files' Encyclopedia of Obesity and Eating Disorders (2006. 3d ed.), is a more coherent and substantive approach to the material. A good resource for public, school, and undergraduate libraries.—Teresa R. Faust, Vermont Dept. of Libs., BerlinProduct Details
Related Subjects
Table of Contents
List of Tables xiii
List of Figures xv
Preface xvii
1 Background and History 1
Defining and Measuring Overweight and Obesity 4
Indirect Measuring Methods 4
Limitations and Shortcomings 10
Assessing Percentage of Body Fat 11
Direct Measuring Methods 12
Obesity Trends in the United States 14
Obesity as a National Health Problem 16
Why Are We Overweight? 17
Factors That Contribute to Obesity 19
Increased Energy Intake 19
Distorted Portion Sizes 20
Drinking More Calories 23
Conveniently Available Food 23
Physical Inactivity 24
Physical Activity and Short-term Weight Loss 25
Metabolic and Genetic Contributions 26
Can We Blame Obesity on Our Genes? 27
Ways Genes Contribute to Obesity 28
Consequences of Overweight and Obesity 29
Discrimination 31
Economic Consequences 32
We Live in an Obesogenic Environment 33
References 34
2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions 41
Is Obesity a Disease? 41
Is Obesity an Epidemic? 45
Treatment of Obesity: Fighting the Battle of the Bulge 49
Diet Foods 56
Adequate Nutrition Labeling 57
Physical Activity 59
Behavioral Strategies for Responding to an Obesogenic Environment 60
Long-term Success 62
Medications 63
Red Flag Campaign 67
Dietary Fiber 68
Prescription Drugs 69
Obesity (Bariatric) Surgery 73
Other Invasive Treatments for Obesity 77
How Does the Health Care System Deal with Obesity? 78
Why Can't We Just Prevent Obesity? 80
Conclusions 81
References 82
3 Worldwide Perspective 89
Multinational Scope of Overweight and Obesity 89
The Weight Gap: Undernutrition Coexists with Obesity 90
Obesity Becoming More Common among Children 91
Childhood WeightCategories Not Clear 92
Changing Lifestyle and Economic Policies 93
Globalization of Food Production and Marketing 93
Move to Cities Reduces Physical Activity 94
Gender Effects on Obesity 95
Obesogenic Environment's Influence on Children 96
Global Health Risks Associated with Childhood Obesity 97
Managing Childhood Overweight and Obesity 98
Medical Treatment 99
Dietary Interventions 100
How to Choose the Best Diet for Children 100
Pharmacological Treatment 102
Surgical Treatment 102
Health Care Delivery Systems 103
Prevention 103
Coordinated Strategies for Childhood Obesity Prevention 104
Global Collaboration to Combat Childhood Obesity 104
Goals for Government, Schools, Media and Marketing, Parents, and Researchers 106
Conclusion 119
References 119
4 Chronology 125
References 144
5 Biographical Sketches 147
S. Daniel Abraham 147
David Allison 148
Arne Astrup 149
Robert C. Atkins 149
Richard L. Atkinson 150
George Blackburn 151
Steven N. Blair 151
Claude Bouchard 152
George A. Bray 153
Jane E. Brody 154
Kelly Brownell 154
Henry Buckwald 155
Paul F. Campos 156
William J. Clinton 157
Jenny Craig 157
William H. Dietz 157
Adam Drewnowski 158
Johanna Dwyer 159
Katherine M. Flegal 159
Jared Fogle 160
Jeffrey M. Friedman 161
M. R. C. Greenwood 161
Barbara Hansen 162
Marion M. Hetherington 163
James O. Hill 163
Hippocrates 164
Jules Hirsch 164
W. P. T. James 165
Robin B. Kanarek 166
Janet C. King 166
Ahmed Kissebah 167
C. Everett Koop 168
John Kral 169
Ray Kroc 169
Shiriki Kumanyika 170
Jack LaLanne 171
Antoine Lavoisier 172
Maimonides 172
Jean Mayer 173
Barbara J. Moore 173
Jean Nidetch 174
Dean Ornish 175
Xavier Pi-Sunyer 176
Nathan Pritikin 176
Barbara J. Rolls 177
Wim H. M. Saris 177
Ethan Allen Sims 178
Sachiko St. Jeor 179
Judith S. Stern 180
Albert J. Stunkard 181
Oprah Winfrey 181
Rena Wing 182
References 183
6 Data and Documents 187
Data 187
Documents 198
Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report 198
"The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity" 210
Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research 222
References 231
7 Directory of Agencies, Programs, and Organizations 233
Government Agencies and National Programs and Initiatives 233
International Agencies and Organizations 243
Nonprofit, Professional, and Trade Organizations 247
References 267
8 Selected Print and Nonprint Resources 269
Books 270
Reference Works 270
Scientific Works 271
Popular Books 272
Reports 277
Guidelines 282
Journals and Magazines 284
Newsletters 286
Web Sites 289
General Web Sites 289
Interactive for General Population 291
Interactive for Children and Adolescents 292
Movies 296
Databases 297
Food and Nutrition Experts 301
Calculators and Counters 301
Glossary 303
Index 309
About the Authors 323