Customer Reviews

The Fattening of America: How The Economy Makes Us Fat, If It Matters, and What To Do About It

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There are some books that talk about obesity in generic terms, without giving any real backing to their discussion. There are other books which are highly scientific, that are tedious to read. The Fattening of America does a great job of remaining highly interesting while providing a *ton* of information - all linked to the studies if you want to learn more.

I run a low carb site, and talk with hundreds of overweight people each week. There are many common issues they face. They want to eat healthy, but they can't afford to buy fruits and vegetables. They want to exercise, but the job that pays their rent is sedentary. They have to eat out due to time constraints, and the healthy options in their area are few.

This book goes into these issues - and much more - to explain how modern life has really created an environment in which people naturally get fat. Our economic success has this side effect. Automation has made most jobs nice and easy - meaning we no longer burn up calories working. Our government and system of agriculture has somehow made bad foods cheap - soybean products, corn products - while making healthy foods much more expensive. The result is since 1985 the average woman went from size 8 to size 14.

The book digs into every aspect of what is going on. It talks about the genetic issues, how people with certain genetics are coded to easily gain weight. This was a great advantage in times of famine - but in modern times it's suddenly a liability. There are many drugs which cause weight gain, like the birth control pill. The more drugs we as a society ingest, the heavier we get.

TV is of course a problem. People sit and watch 2.6hr/day rather than doing anything active. We actually have 4 hours a week more free time than in 1965 - but we choose to use it in non active ways. Labor saving devices have really helped us not have to work - and stationary devices like TVs, computers and video games have jumped into that time spot.

Even modern issues such as lack of sleep add to the obesity problem. It's a combination of many different factors which all add up to this increasing girth size.

An interesting point brought up by the book is that most obese people *know* they have a shorter life span and more risk for disease - but for many, it's a trade-off they are willing to make. That's not to say that a miracle thin pill would be avoided by them! But even people who know that their diet is poor and that they should exercise more often deliberately choose to relax in front of the TV with a large chocolate cake. They have a rough life, and this is their time of contentment. They are very willing to trade off the satisfaction now for a "maybe 5 more years" when they are 80.

Part of what enables this is that obese people in modern times are far more healthy than they were 50 years ago. Our changes in technology, medicine and environment mean that their blood pressure can be controlled, there are clothes for them to wear, they can live a happy life. They can be large and happy. To start losing weight would require great sacrifices - and really, there isn't much incentive for them to take that step.

When you think about it, pretty much all of us are in that situation. We all have bad habits - we drink a bit too much, we smoke, we don't take our vitamins every day, we don't drink enough water, we don't walk 10,000 steps. Every one of us makes compromises in our lives because living the "perfect life" to gain a few extra years just doesn't seem worth it in the long run. We'd rather live the life we really enjoy, for as long as we can, vs living a test-tube life to get the "ultimate maximum" number of minutes on the earth.

Where most personal choices like drinking and smoking can hurt others - drunk driving, second hand smoke - obesity tends to only directly affect the person who is heavy. So why should others care about this issue?

The book points out that US government spends $45 billion on obesity medical care each year, and private insurance companies spend another $45 billion. Both of these costs are passed along to the average citizen. So in a way, we are all paying the price for people who end up in an obese state. Unless the obese person swears off ever seeing a doctor, there is in fact an impact on others in the community. But is that any different than someone who chooses to ride a motorcycle? Go hang gliding? What risks do we find "proper"?

I found the information and text extremely interesting, and read it straight through despite having other things I should have been doing. I very much support heavy people - I have several friends who clearly fall into that category - and realize that no solution is cut and dried. Every single case of obesity is unique, and has many factors. Still, this book lays out a TON of information, background research and concepts to ponder - and then points you in the direction to learn more about whatever issues seem to strike a chord with you.

Highly recommended.

True confessions: I took a gamble when I decided to read this book. I know several health economists and (sorry guys) their research is not exactly thrilling material to me. So I normally yawn and move on. But the publisher clearly has big plans for this book, so I figured they knew something about this book that I didn't - - and I took the chance of reading it.

The gamble paid off. Most accounts of "America's Obesity Epidemic" ring false to me, with psychobabble, silly generalizations about how Americans differ from other examples of homo sapiens, and health-nuts' ramblings about everyone else's lack of willpower. This one is different, as Finkelstein looks at the economics behind our growing waistlines.

The core story is pretty simple. Americans are getting wealthier, and more women work, so time is more valuable. As a result, time that we might spend on shopping and on food preparation is increasingly expensive to us, so we do less of it. We still have to eat, so we choose food that we can obtain quickly - - fast food restaurants for many of us. Farm subsidies make soybeans (hydrogenated vegetable oil), corn (high fructose corn syrup) and wheat products both inexpensive and abundant, so we eat more of those. Farmers grow more of those, and fewer fruits and vegetables, so we eat fewer of the healthy foods. We all know that this diet is bad for our health but we substitute easy and highly-subsidized blood pressure and cholesterol medications for time-consuming lifestyle changes.

The book summarizes academic research on these issues in a lively style. Presumably, Finkelstein (the health economist) blocked out the book and provided the scholarship while Zuckerman (a science and health writer) turned it into an interesting read. Both authors did their jobs well and the book is both informative and easy to read.

Finkelstein has two peculiarities worth noting. First, he's an economist, so he takes everyone's preferences seriously. He believes that people eat unhealthy food because they like it in addition to it being cheap and fast. He also believes that people understand the health consequences and mostly choose their current lifestyles rationally, and they have a right to do this. As a result, there's only a role for public policy to the extent that one person's obesity harms other people.

Like many marathoners and obesity researchers, he also clearly has a bit of the obsessive-compulsive to him, and he'd be an annoying neighbor, parent, or children's soccer coach. Fortunately, he's pretty good at making fun of himself (or at letting Zuckerman make fun of him).

The book has no easy answers or quick solutions, but that makes its basic story all the more persuasive. Highly recommended.

One of the observations that my friends and I have made on the occassions when we have dinner or lunch out is that healthy foods (salads, especially) tend to demand a premium price. You ask to substitute a side salad for fries (some lettuce and maybe a sliver of carrot) and they want to tack $2.00 onto your bill. Therefore, when this book came up I was eager to read what the author had to say about this -- and admittedly, he has some good points, but his delivery could use some adjustment.

In the book the author goes into detail, using economics facts and figures, to help us understand how economics plays a part in the obesity problem we have here in America. He examines several aspects of the problem, including how those lower on the socio-economic scale tend to eat unhealthy food because it costs less and fits within their budget, while those higher on the socio-economic scale tend to eat out or eat prepared foods which are not much healthier. Good points, both of them and very true.

Unfortunately, the author at several times seems to ignore medical conditions that can cause obesity and weight issues. Now, granted, during he book he points out that there are medical reasons, however I got the impression reading some of the chapters that he wasn't really understanding the entire problem of obesity in terms of not only economics, but also medical.

It's a good book, and an eye opener for many, but I really think the author needs to go back and examine some of the chapters and think about how he words things. When I first started reading the book the author came off as someone who detests overweight individuals -- though later on in the book that perception wore away. However, for someone who is reading the book they may get the wrong impression from the first chapter or two.

A good book, but needs some polishing in this reader's opinion.

Although this is book is from an economist's point of view, it's definitely an enjoyable read. It's not dry and it is very entertaining and informative, too.

As interesting as this book was, though, it doesn't seem to be groundbreaking data as much as it is expanded or more detailed data regarding information that has been out there for the general public for some time. That is, we've all heard that it's more expensive to eat a healthy diet than it is to eat an unhealthy diet.

Still, the details were and are interesting to me, and the author writes extremely well-- especially for this type of material. He adds personal stories to illustrate the info.

I read this because an advance copy was given to me to review. I did enjoy it. I would not have picked it up on my own, though. Additionally, I'm not sure I'd recommend the book even though I'll probably use some of the information I gained in conversation.

Finkelstein and Zuckerman explore a sprawling landscape of issues relating to dietary, health, and economic concerns. Many books have approached the problem(s) of the expanding girth of Americans' bodies form the perspective of psychology, lifestyle, and/or trends in food technologies. The authors' persuasive thesis is that these are generally best understood as driving, and inevitably being driven by, economic forces. "Somewhat fictionalized" members of Finkelstein's family--his overweight mother, his obese Uncle Al, his opinionated dad with clogged arteries--serve to personalize and bring humor to larger-scale dynamics.

The book is packed with statistics and analysis of studies, a few of which struck my skeptical mind as being questionable, but most of which are undoubtedly valid; all are well referenced, for the reader who may be inclined to look into certain things further. As someone whose interests often run more to the theoretical than the practical, I enjoyed Finkelstein's occasional excursions into economic theory more than I did a few of the `brass tacks' discussions.

The economist's concern with "utility-maximization" brings us to appreciate that, when taking all contributing factors into account, "nothing is simple when it comes to obesity" (contrary to [Finkelstein's] opinionated dad's views). Importantly, an individual's "better off / worse off" positions have to do with many more factors than just long-term health goals or `body image'. The authors explain this economic principle quite well, and it is a recurring point of reference throughout the study.

The presentation is somewhat Socratic in style--upon the introduction of each topic, batteries of questions are posed. The issues are complex, and becoming more global in their complexity. The scale of the problem is growing and being exported even, in some aspects, to the poorest societies. It has become costlier, in a variety of ways, to live healthfully than to become overweight or obese. If progress is to be made, we cannot loose the utility-maximization dilemma at the outset (chapter 9), by raising obese kids because it is easier than providing them with a much better life.

The book is quite engaging and enlightening. I don't hesitate to recommend it, and for those readers who may be interested in looking further into the health-economics interface, I especially recommend Howard Lyman's excellent "Mad Cowboy," which also extends the conversation into larger ecological/environmental considerations as well as the dangers concomitant to exporting the American dietary-economic package to the rest of the world. Another recommendation is John Robbins' "Diet for a New America." Robbins' and Lyman's works are far more important than this volume, read them if you have not.

I've read a lot of books on the food industry, including Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, Fat Land by Greg Critser, and Supersize Me by Morgan Spurlock. 'The Fattening Of America' confirms the theories of these other books but takes a fresh look at the problem through the viewpoint of Economics.

Corn, Soybean, and Wheat subsidies have made these base ingredients for nutrient poor foods much more affordable that fruits and vegetables, the base of a healthy diet. Fast food and nutrient poor prepared foods are cheaper than ever, opening a door to market demand from consumers. Finklestein and Zuckerman look at crop subsidies, the "Farm Bill", the Food Stamp program, supply and demand marketing, the impact of obesity on the Medicare and Medicaid programs, food commercials aimed at children, market failure, and public need. With the rise of the use of corn syrup (and other products) came The Fattening Of America.

Who pays for obesity besides the obese person? Is there an impact on taxpayers? Should the government step in, or is it none of their business? If they did, what would be the negative side effects of the program implemented, and the cost? What can employers and insurance companies do? In the end, who is responsible? What are the causes and cures of obesity and what can an individual do about how obesity impacts all these aspects of our lives?

The discussions are interesting and appropriate, this book really makes you think about the economics of obesity, even if you didn't like economics in college. It's well written and friendly to the non-specialist. There is an extensive 'Notes' section, more of a bibliography, of all the sources for Finklestein and Zuckerman's research. The authors include websites in the book that can be looked up for more information on the discussion at hand. At only 237 pages, this is a fast, interesting, and entertaining read. I highly recommend the book, especially for those interested in economic impact of a "weighty" problem Americans are facing now, and will face on a larger scale in the future as our enlarging youth population matures. Enjoy!

I am reading this book at the same time I am taking a Microeconomics course. For sure the author puts the problem of obestity in economic terms (showing how oppurtunity costs effect a persons desire to work out- for example). That being said the book is very easy to understand and I thought very well written. I would say that the last chapter on how to lose weight was a bit short and could easily be expanded on. All in all it seems a very objective overview of the obesity issues that more economically developed country (read affluent) face. I take issue with some of his concepts- like the fact that american have more leisure time- as in my experience, supporting a big corporation, that is simply not true. Workplaces are not only some of the unhealthiest places to hang out, in terms of food and snack options, but the tendency for employers to want workers to work longer hours(or at least encourage it)directly impacts the workers ability to balance life with work, and that includes working out.

I had high hopes for this one when I read the title, especially the words: "How the Economy Makes Us Fat, If it Matters and What to Do About it". So here's the good and the bad about this book:

The Good: Intriguing nuggets of info and theories here and there. For instance, I realized that more Americans were obese but not that 1/3 of us are overweight (or so writes the author). This is indeed a shocking statistic!
The author also makes a compelling case for there being a profit in the "ObesEconomy", including fashion for large size women, weight loss programs (with high relapse rates) and even furniture designed to hold heavier people.

Now for the less positive features:

Although this book is written by an economist, there were some chapters which really could have been written by a number of other people, seeming to have no connection to weight and the economy. Most notable: the chapter titled "How to Lose Weight Like an Economist". As I read advice about setting long-term weight and exercise goals, using pedometers and exercise buddies, I really didn't find anything new or novel in this information. It was the same advice I'd read in numerous diet books.

I thought the title of that chapter was a bit misleading although the author DID make the point that financial motivations like the ones offered on shows like The Biggest Loser or for spokespeople like Jared Fogle for Subway could motivate people to keep weight off.

Other chapters focused on how and why we are getting heavier but there wasn't a strong correlation between the information and the economy. Again, I felt baffled. There just seemed to be a lot of information that didn't relate to the title of this book.

Let me start by saying that I very much like the trend of economists writing books about the things around us. I bought this book after reading about it on an economist's blog. (Sorry, I can't find the pointer.) It does deliver the promised economic analysis, and makes some interesting points. But overall I'm disappointed with it for three reasons.

1) Rationality bias. The authors fail to properly weight the non-rational ways that humans relate to food. For example, although they make reference to Brian Wansink--whose own book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think documents many research studies showing that many factors beneath our consciousness affect how we consume food--they essentially dismiss this research evidence in favor of their own opinions. To some extent I understand this, because a lot of economic analysis is predicated on the idea of rational decision making, but I found it high-handed.

2) A whopping blind spot with respect to childhood obesity. Here again, they ignore research (see, for example, anything by Ellyn Satter) which shows that the sort of intervention they favor is counterproductive. The anecdote about the obese boy in England, and the primary author's statement that he would favor taking the child away from the mother, has chilling parallels to a case described by Satter in which a foster mother managed to starve an overweight boy down to a lower weight, while the professionals all ignored the reasons this child overate and ate poorly in the first place.

3) Poor fact-checking. I practically threw the book in the trash can when I encountered this one: "...according to a press release issued by the National Restaurant Association, a sandwich consisting of just five items can be ordered 120 different ways. Throw in five condiment options--such as lettuce, ketchup, mustard, onions, and oil--and now you have more than 3.6 million combinations."

OK, strictly speaking, the "fact" is that the press release exists. Its contents are spurious, however, and as every PhD I have ever met has been required to take a statistics course, he should have had no trouble understanding and debunking the numbers. The only way a sandwich with 5 items can be ordered 120 different ways is if the order of the items matters--i.e. putting the cheese on top of the ham is considered different than putting the ham on top of the cheese. Ridiculous. The correct numbers are 31 different combinations of 5 items and 1023 combinations of 10. An error of that magnitude, when made by the Restaurant Association, is "spin." But when it's repeated unchecked by a researcher, it's irresponsible.

Don't get me wrong--it's an enjoyable read--but don't take too much of it on faith.

I read about 7/8 of the book straight through. I could not put it down. I was mad when anything took me away from the book, and all I wanted was to keep reading. But at about 7/8s of the way in...I slowed way down. I read a little, then put it aside--read a little, then put it aside. I was doing the thing where you don't want it to end, so you're making the last few pages last.

What a fascinating book. I have been thinking about economic models to explain social phenomenons ever since I read it, and in nearly every instance, the econ. model works as an explanation of group behavior--simply, it's easier and cheaper to do one thing versus another. So interesting to imagine complex behaviors stemming from something so simple--and yet...did I get up early this morning and go to the gym? No, I did not. It was easier and cheaper for me to stay home--going to the gym would have been inconvenient and expensive in terms of my time commitment. THOUGH, I do walk everywhere since I don't own a car...walking is easier and cheaper than dealing with car ownership or constant cabbing.

So this is fan mail to you and your co-author. What a great book! It has really changed the way I'm thinking about why we do things (or why we don't do them), and it was so entertainingly written I plowed right through it and wished it had been 300 pp. longer.