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Zoe Harcombe

The Obesity Epidemic: What caused it? How can we stop it? Paperback – July 12, 2015

by Zoe harcombe (Author)

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"The Obesity Epidemic: What caused it? How can we stop it?" does what it says in the title - it answers those two critical questions. It takes you on the journey that the author, Zoe Harcombe went on to answer those questions and hopefully it will shock you as much as it shocked her. The starting point must be - when did The Obesity Epidemic start? The graphs and tables show a stunning increase in obesity levels at the turn of the 1980's and obesity literally takes off, like an aeroplane trajectory, from that point onwards. Obesity in the UK, as an example, increases almost 10 fold between the 1970's and 1999 from 2.7% to 25%. So what happened? The short answer is - we changed our diet advice. More accurately we did a U-turn in our diet advice. We used to believe (and our grandmothers still do) that bread and potatoes were fattening and we should put butter on our vegetables. We changed this completely to tell citizens of the 'developed' world to base our meals on starchy foods and to replace nature's butter with man-made hydrogenated spreads. Coincidence or cause? The Obesity Epidemic takes you through the actual documents that changed our diet advice, most importantly why the advice changed and what is stopping us from changing the advice back. This is a journey through the landmark turning points in the history of public health diet advice and the impact that this has had on obesity - and all the accompanying modern illnesses: heart disease; cancer; diabetes and the lack of well being that the average human suffers today. If you currently believe that "energy in equals energy out" - be prepared to change your view, if you read this book with an open mind. If you think one pound equals 3,500 calories, you may be in for a surprise. If you assume that you will lose one pound for every deficit of 3,500 calories you create, you will see irrefutable evidence to the contrary. You will understand where five-a-day comes from and will hopefully revise your adherence to this marketing slogan afterwards. You will hopefully be shocked and appalled at the conflict of interest in the food and obesity industries. You may never drink fruit juice again. With 400 references and every fact backed up with sourced and presented evidence - this is the most informative book on the subject of obesity ever written. You cannot fail to learn a great deal and to have your thinking continually challenged in a highly engaging way. The research for this book changed everything the author held to be true - read with an open mind - it could do the same for you. Love it or hate it, you have to read it.

Print length

326 pages
Language

English
Publication date

July 12, 2015
Dimensions

6 x 0.74 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1907797475
ISBN-13

978-1907797477
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Product details

Publisher : Columbus Publishing Ltd (July 12, 2015)
Language : English
Paperback : 326 pages
ISBN-10 : 1907797475
ISBN-13 : 978-1907797477
Item Weight : 1.1 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 0.74 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #935,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #121,242 in Health, Fitness & Dieting (Books)

Customer Reviews:
130 ratings

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ALYCE M. FISHER

Headline: Calories cut do not equal fat lost!!!

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2015

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The book is very informative, a little technical, but gives you some solid facts and research behind the issues. I like the fact that she's not pushing a diet on you, just giving you the facts about why more people are obese. I keep telling my husband that I don't remember so many fat little kids from when we were kids (1950's) and now I know that's true. The answer to why not only are the adults fat, but the kids are too is in this book. I hope the we can change things in our food industry so that people will be able to make better choices, but I know some people will just go for the quick and carb loaded because it's fast and easy. I needed the discussion about calories cut vs fat lost. That discussion and the facts behind it are worth buying this book. I finally know that cutting calories and exercise are not going to give me the results I've been expecting. Makes me marvel at what a great machine the human body really is. Even though I have years of personal evidence that cut calories and exercise don't get the results I expect, I just keep trying to put the square peg in the round hole. I'm hoping that after reading this book, I can put that old philosophy behind me for good. I'm going to try and eat fewer carbs in general and take some nice relaxing walks (because I want to) and see where that gets me.

10 people found this helpful

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Allan Elder

Love the author's brain!

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2015

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Wow! I truly love the author's brain! Zoe has a mind that is so impressive. They way the author breaks down arguments and demonstrates logical thinking is astounding. Of course, the data is good too. Everything presented is supported by data with references. Both sides of the argument are presented in most cases and the author has the guts to admit when the data is unclear yet also explains why a particular stand is taken. This book could stand as a model for scientific writing, critical thinking, logical analysis, and good writing combined. If you think you understand the obesity issue, read this book and discover that you probably don't. No magic diets or advice within. Eat natural foods is the main advice. Even if you don't care about the obesity problem, if you're a scientific or academic writer, read this book anyway.

5 people found this helpful

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D. Carlton

Readable, informative book

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2015

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If you read enough diet books, you will immediately recognize that Harcombe is a member of the fat is good for you crowd. Her twist is that the food you eat should be high quality. By quality, she means natural food. She dislikes, in a human diet that is good for you sense, white flower, sugar, and trans-fat or chemical food additive. If your food needs additives that is a good reason not to eat it. She believes that calorie restriction diets don't work. She points out the considerable hypocrisy in most diet books. I am mostly sympathetic to her views, so I liked the book. It is well written and an easy read.

One person found this helpful

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Sulu35

Absolutely fascinating-- a MUST read

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013

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Zöe Harcrombe's The Obesity Epidemic: What caused it? How can we stop it? is not only a compelling read, but a detailed, research-based account of how dietary guidelines and norms for many of the worlds developed nations have changed over the course of the last 30 years. As an independent obesity researcher, Harcrombe suffers no conflicts of interest and is commended for delivering hard facts, based on research conducted during the last century on a wide range of health related topics by a number of experts. While the book is laden with her own thoughts and frustrations, she makes clear distinctions between what is fact and what is her own expert opinion as a researcher; much of the current dietary advice, she points out, is due to the opinions of `professionals' and often times backed up with little to no evidence.

Commonly reiterated phrases such as "one pound of fat is approximately 3,500 calories, so to lose one pound of fat per week, you need a deficit of 500 calories per day" and "energy in equals energy out" are dissected and debunked, and she reviews multiple game-changing studies in the field of health and nutrition, which in several instances she finds to be biased and inconclusive.

Harcrombe devotes a significant amount of the book to explaining the complicated biochemistry of carbohydrates, fats, cholesterol, and other important organic compounds in a way that is easy to understand, but not oversimplified. She also writes extensively about the different inner workings of the human body, its systems, its hormones and all of their functions. Once the physical science is covered, she delves into the political and social factors that have, in her opinion and mine, caused the obesity epidemic.

There are two reasons why this book comes so highly recommended. On one hand, Harcrombe looks at obesity from virtually every angle. She talks about chemistry and biology, physics and thermodynamics, sociology, psychology, politics, etc. Her writing is very well cited (399 sources referenced) and the number of research studies she incorporates is, quite frankly, astounding. She also talks about her own findings as an obesity researcher, exposing the close ties between the numerous government organizations responsible for our current nutritional guidelines and many of the largest food and drink industries (ex McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Co.) She cleverly points out "When the food and drink industries are so actively embracing public health advice isn't it time to wonder just how healthy that advice can be." With so much of what she writes in disagreement with modern dietary advice, having the facts and figures to back up her accusations and conclusions is essential; Harcrombe does a phenomenal job of providing them. If this book is read with an open mind, it is guaranteed to be an eye opening and potentially life changing experience.

11 people found this helpful

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Wendy BH

(I was grateful that she frequently translates the science information for scientific illiterates like me. ) It's hard to argue

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2014

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This is a must read for anyone interested in the subject in the title, or in nutrition in general. A lot of science, a lot of history, all woven together to make a very compelling case for how our health is being destroyed, not only by sugar, but by the very government agencies that are supposed to be protecting us. She does not posit a conspiracy theory; rather, she writes the history, connects the dots, does the difficult scientific digging to come to the inescapable conclusion that we need to stay away from sugar and refined carbohydrates and focus on cooking whole foods. (I was grateful that she frequently translates the science information for scientific illiterates like me.) It's hard to argue with her conclusions and indeed, there's no real reason to want to, because she doesn't advocate a rigid dietary program based on ideology. This book is unique among the many I've read on this subject, for its depth and quality of research.

4 people found this helpful

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OnTheShelf

An Interesting, Thought Provoking Must Read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2016

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You should read this book if you want to know what is happening in the food industry at the moment, here and in the USA. She uses some excellent evidence from past medical trials and studies to show that since 1974 successive governments have gotten it completely wrong about what we should be eating for a healthy lifestyle. We've been told it should be 'low fat' so they took the fat out of things but replaced it with sugar to make it more palatable. And sugar, once its ingested triggers insulin - the fat making hormone! This book is very readable and at times it is scientific but Ms Harcombe is very good at explaining everything to make it more understandable. The book is political at times too but all the better for that - we need to know why one of our food agencies has a board member from Kellogg on the committee? Can that board truly be independent and acting for the people's health with someone on the board who makes sugary cereal and cereal bars? Obesity in this country has gone through the roof in 30 years and Zoe Harcombe explains why and what we need to do to get us back to health and a normal weight. Do you know that in the USA a manufacturer of baby formula includes High Fructose Corn Syrup in its formula - the USA now has obese 6 month olds - time for us all to hear the wake up call - read this book, it might change your life.

10 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

This is a remarkably detailed book with a wealth of ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2016

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This is a remarkably detailed book with a wealth of information. I found the underlying thesis that obesity is essentially a reflection of excessive carbohydrate intake in modern diets wholly convincing. It may be of interest to note that, on adoption of such a diet, I lost 16 lbs in 3 months and continue to slowly lose weight. I have a brother with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus who had received warnings from dieticians and doctors to maintain a carbohydrate intake and whose Insulin requirements and weight had gradually risen over a 5 year period. On adoption of a diet free of bread, rice, potatoes and pasta, he has stopped Insulin use and his weight loss is approaching 20 lbs. I urge all those who have a persistent weight problem or are concerned about maturity onset Diabetes to read this. It may help to note that I am a qualified doctor, though specialised in Orthopaedic Surgery. The existence of this book was drawn to my attention in a reunion meeting of my year at Medical School (1965) and had widespread support among others who are medically qualified .

14 people found this helpful

JENKSIE

Cruical reading if you want to know the truth.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2016

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A masterpiece! Not an easy book to read, and often hard to digest, but possibly the most important book ever written about obesity. Forget what the "experts" are telling you (they have no real idea what they are talking about). This book will open you eyes (and hopefully your mind) to the real science behind obesity and weight loss - and it has NOTHING TO DO WITH CALORIES! Ms Harcombe destroys calorie-theory in one chapter, and that alone makes this book a bargain. Two other authors I would recommend on the subject of the truth about obesity are Gary Taubes and Thor Olafson. If you want to know what REALLY makes us fat, and what we can do about it - read what these genuine experts have to say.

5 people found this helpful

Casuarina UK

Quite a 'heavy' read...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2015

Verified Purchase

I found this book very heavy going. I felt that the author spent so much time trying to prove that our current thinking on diets is wrong (which I totally agree with). There are numerous quotes and research results and eventually I just felt like saying 'yes, I get it, just stop labouring the point!'.

I found it quite complex and just didn't read it to the end as I got so bored so my review is obviously not very rounded. It did seem that there was much more information on what we had been doing wrong rather than what we should be doing right. I had previously read John Briffa's excellent book - Escape the Diet Trap - which I think is a much better read. Not too simplistic at all, and it felt like a nice, friendly uncle guiding me through the maze of low carb healthy eating. I really enjoyed reading it! Perhaps that is why I found this book such heavy going in comparison.

However all the information about what does and doesn't work as far as having a good diet is concerned is contained in this book. I just found it all a bit too much!

7 people found this helpful

jc1408

An eye opener thank you

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book is the best dietary advise book I have ever read and as I am in the obese category I've read a few believe me. I've been dieting for over 20 years and I'm bigger now than I have ever been. Well it's no wonder, I would like to give Zoe Harcombe a big hug for opening my eyes and making me think it's not me that's the failure but the system for which we put so much faith in. I've been trying to cut out sugar and eat more real fool since I read page 1 and I've never felt better, I don't think about weighing anything or pointing or sinning or feeling guilty anymore, I just cook real food with real fat and real flavour and I'm losing weight, feeling good and going to spread the words in this book as much as possible. Thank you Zoe with all my heart.

16 people found this helpful

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