The obesity epidemic in North America
Subtitle: connecting biology and culture
By: Anna Bellisari
Publisher: Waveland Press
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Long Grove, IL
Language: eng
Number of pages: 114
ISBN-13: 9781577667735
Subjects: Obesity; Nutrition disorders; Epidemics; Lifestyles; Epidemiology; Etiology; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Life Style
Description: Obesity prevalence in the U.S. is the highest among developed countries, a situation that calls for a nationwide understanding of this complex phenomenon. Brief yet comprehensive, The Obesity Epidemic in North America offers a much-needed examination of the effects of human evolution, environmental changes, human variation, poverty, and culture. An ideal supplement in nutritional anthropology or medical anthropology classes, the book's rare biocultural perspective helps readers grasp the root causes of obesity. As Bellisari sees it, the medical and nutrition-science fields are fully engaged in developing strategies to address the obesity problem. It is institutions, such as political and economic organizations, as well as society itself, that need to become more proactive in improving obesity-related public health. This text provides a giant first step toward that end.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-108) and index.
Table of contents: title: North American Obesity Epidemic In A Global Context:; title: Introduction; title: Is obesity an epidemic?; title: Measuring body fat; title: Adipocytes; title: Health risks of obesity; title: Costs associated with obesity; title: Anthropology and the obesity epidemic; title: Conclusion; title: Evolutionary Origins:; title: Introduction; title: Primate past; title: Our hominin heritage; title: Neolithic revolution; title: Conclusion; title: Biology Of Obesity:; title: Introduction; title: Energy regulation; title: Obesity genes; title: Obesity and the lifespan; title: Conclusion; title: Obesogenic Environment:; title: Introduction; title: Rise of the obesity epidemic; title: Energy intake; title: Feeding kids; title: Poverty paradox; title: Physical inactivity; title: Work environment; title: Physical activity and the built environment; title: Conclusion; title: Obesity And The American Dream:; title: Introduction; title: Body image; title: Food and culture; title: Culture change and globesity; title: Capitalism, corporations, and the culture of profit; title: Diet industry; title: Bariatric surgery; title: Consumers and the culture of accumulation; title: Individualism and the culture of personal freedom; title: Conclusion; title: Ecology Of Obesity:; title: Glossary; title: References; title: Index.