Obesity: The Biography

By: Sander Gilman

If it is true that everyone everywhere in the world is getting fatter and fatter, why is it?

Obesity: The Biography looks at this claim and the very notion of “global obesity” as the major contemporary public health threat and puts it into historical perspective. The various claims as to what obesity is, what causes it, who gets fat (and fatter), is looked at from the medicine of the ancient Greeks, who used food as therapy to contemporary America, where “organic” food is thought to be just as effective in preventing illness. The medical history of obesity, of diet, and of exercise, from the Bible’s condemnation of eating pork to Benjamin Franklin, who founded the very first swimming club, gives us an insight into complex social and cultural meanings associated with food and fat.

Today’s science, from genetics to the study of infectious diseases, is equally concerned with obesity – and this science too is part of a culture that needs to control body size as a means of preserving health. Yet do we really want the government to tell us how much salt and fat we can eat? The claims of our modern science of obesity seem to be moving in that direction. Can we imagines a 21st-century “speak-easy” where we knock on the door, give the secret password and can get – food the way we want it! That seems to be the future.

About the author: Sander Gilman is an American scholar at Emory University in Atlanta, USA.

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Jim Hutchins

I’m looking forward to reading this. I’ve been working on a project called “The Seven Deadly Synapses” which looks at the neuroscience behind the Seven Deadly Sins, and of course I’m interested in anything written about Gluttony.
Liz Gloyn

Hmmm… Have to say I’m a bit sceptical about the business of starting from the Greeks and working up, just because this sort of thing normally goes horribly wrong. I’d be interested in seeing what he made of the ancient sources, though!
http://applesandporsches.com Ellie Di

I’ve been reading a lot of Michael Pollan over the last two years, and my appetite (no pun intended (well, maybe a little one)) for reading about food and how we relate to it has grown immensely. A historical look at our views on consumption is just the thing I need next!
http://historywithatwist.blogspot.com Vicky Alvear Shecter

This sounds very interesting! I definitely want to read this. And after reading Jim’s comment, I now want to read his work too!
Ellen Leahy

Pick me. Pick me. I want to read this book and add it to the bookshelf of our local public health department where I work. We are struggling to get a foothold on addressing obesity, esp. preventing childhood obesity, and this “zoom out” perspective would be good for us. Pick us. We will use the book.
Rachel W.

Thank you for the giveaway! You always have the most interesting books!
Brett Dolezal

Would be very interested to read about obesity in context of it’s origins
http://chewdigestbooks.com Gwen

Obesity is a subject that baffles me. Blessed with “good” genes, it has always seemed like a problem with a simple solution to me. Eat more healthy stuff & less bad stuff. I am learning that that attitude has left me with a fair amount of nasty prejudices that I really need to nip in the bud. I would really like to understand more so that I can become a better person.
Stacet

As someone who has battled obesity, to the point of having a gastric bypass, I would love to read this. The historical principle is something that never gets talked about, because we are to busy judging those who struggle.
http://indonique.com George

Staying thin was never an issue growing up. It seems to be getting more difficult these days. Even normal traditional foods seem to have been altered or enhanced in some way. A hamburger doesn’t even resemble the hamburger of yesterday. Eating right is suddenly difficult and educating my children is even more so. Could be a good read.
Lavonda Robinette

Since obesity is becoming such an issue in today’s world, I am very interested in taking a look at how we got here!
http://www.thehistorybluff.com/?p=2307 Dave

Can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to taking a look at this! Click on my name for a the link to an article about obesity on TheHistoryBluff.com
Paige Roberts

This sounds like a fascinating and timely study. If I was fortunate enough to receive a copy, I would donate it to my local public library because we have a strong “buy local” and “eat local” movements as well as interest in supporting local farmers and fishermen in my community.
Molly

I’m always interested in which topics of today have a past, and how they were viewed in earlier eras. I think this would be a really interesting read. Thanks!
Carol Wong

I do not have thin “gene”. I have been battling obesity since I was 12, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. Please enter me in this contest.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
John B.

We are very interested in reading your book.
What an interesting concept – Speak-easies for foods judged to be inappropriate. So many of us are constantly fighting the battle to maintain or lower our weight. The over emphasis of body size overlooks the true health of the individual. Those who fight to be thin and maintain an unrealistically low weight are often praised, but more often than not are not healthy people. As in most things, extremes are not good for you or your health. We can’t all be model thin nor should we.