Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity [Hardcover]

Susan Okie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 2005

Once dismissed by the medical profession as a purely cosmetic problem, obesity now ranks second only to smoking as a wholly preventable cause of death. Indeed, it's implicated in 300,000 deaths each year and is a major contributor to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression. Even conservative estimates show that 15% of all children are now considered to be overweight--worldwide there are 22 million kids under five years old that are defined as fat. Supersized portions, unhealthy diets, and too little physical activity certainly contribute to what's making kids "fat." But that's not the whole story. Researchers are at a loss to explain why obesity rates have risen so suddenly and so steeply in the closing decades of the 20th century. But head out to the beaches, playgrounds, and amusement parks, and it's obvious that overweight children are more numerous and conspicuous. We see it in our neighborhoods and we read it in the headlines. Our national--indeed the world--is in crisis. But knowledge is power and it's time to arm ourselves in the battle to win the war on obesity. Fed up! is just what the doctor ordered. Based in part on the Institute of Medicine's ground-breaking report on childhood obesity, this new book from family physician and journalist Susan Okie provides in-depth background on the issue; shares heart-rending but instructive case studies that illustrate just how serious and widespread the problem is; and gives honest, authoritative, science-based advice that constitute our best weapons in this critical battle.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Drawing on up-to-date research as well as personal stories, Okie presents the astounding statistics on what she calls "the fattest generation" and the dire health risk the obesity epidemic poses. Okie, a Harvard-trained family physician and Washington Post medical reporter, tackles obesity's causes methodically and without sensation, explicating the biology of body mass and appetite regulation and the relationship between calorie intake and energy expenditure. She also examines some of the rare hormone problems and genetic disorders that, in a tiny minority of children, can cause obesity. Having explored how obesity lowers self-esteem, the author persuasively shows that recent shifts in the environment are most likely to blame for today's childhood obesity epidemic: sprawling suburban neighborhoods that discourage walking, ballooning portions in restaurant food, poor choices in school lunches, a decline in home cooking and the resulting tendency to snack rather than sit down for a family meal are among the factors she cites. Commenting analytically on pediatricians' reluctance to deal with obesity, Okie documents the innovative efforts of certain states and schools to engineer healthy eating and exercise programs. She also meets and describes several families who have put diet and exercise plans into action, or whose children have been hospitalized for obesity. Never preachy or patronizing, Okie will inform and empower all concerned parents about a problem whose time has come (as shown by a New York Times Magazine piece on the subject and recent books like Generation Extra Large. (Feb.)
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Review

"Many adult diseases--with their complications--have their origins in childhood. Preventing obesity from happening in the first place will be much better for everyone in the long run because healthy children become healthy adults."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Joseph Henry Press; 1 edition (February 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0309093104
• ISBN-13: 978-0309093101
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,024,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extensive look at childhood obesity., April 3, 2005

By 

Lee Mellott "Skin Care For Wrinkles" (Frederick, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity (Hardcover)

Dr. Susan Okie has done exhaustive research into one of the most pressing medical issues of today - childhood obesity. The 322 page hardcover book explores the issues surrounding this problem that continues to grow.

Obesity not only effects a child's self-esteem but can lead to medical problems; high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions.

In her book, Okie examines the causes and cures for obesity. Citing both nature and nurture, Okie gives true life examples of what people are doing to combat the problem. With over 22 million children considered to be "fat" in today's society, Okie looks at ways to lower the obesity rate.

This book is a very valuable read for parents, health workers and others to recognize how rampant the problem is and what to do about it. Written in a friendly yet authoritative format Okie, covers a lot of material.

Parents will find it helpful to learn what others have done to help their overweight child become healthier or to help prevent their child from becoming overweight. Health workers will appreciate the vast research Okie has done.

Okie does skip around a little in the book which does interrupt the flow of the book ie in one paragraph she may jump from one idea to the next, but overall the book flows pretty well. She covers alot of ground!

A very good look at childhood obesity one of our nation's most serious problems!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for educators, March 1, 2006

By 

J. Rudden (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity (Hardcover)

This is a well-written and thoroughly researched book on the epidemic of childhood obesity. The author spends a lot of time on solutions---incorporating exercise in the schools and at home, changing diets and she also discusses (though in less depth) more radical solutions such as surgery and in-patient treatment.

At the end, I had little hope that anything would change in America. Too many studies show great reluctance on the part of parents and schools to make any real, lasting changes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very valid statements, January 5, 2007

By 

Sandra A. Travis "Spastic Mind" (Delmar NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity (Paperback)

I find that the author made very valid statements on the state of our society regarding obesity. The very wordy book had a tendency to seem redundant and offered "what is" but not necessarily "what should be done." I did enjoy the book, found it very informative, and concur with the contents.