The Fattening of America

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"Fatty, fat, fat, fat," chants Bart Simpson. He has apoint. Americans are getting fatter. But health economistFinkelstein (public health economics program, Research TriangleInst.; coauthor, with Phaedra S. Corso and Ted R. Miller, TheIncidence and Economic Burden of Injuries in the United States)and business writer Zuckerman (coauthor with Mary Cantando, NineLives: Stories of Women Business Owners Landing on Their Feet)analyze the finances behind the fat. They trace some of thefamiliar causes of the bulging American waistline that Greg Critzeridentified in Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest Peoplein the World. They weigh in on the economics of obesity, whichthey trace back to predictable sources such as school lunch rooms,fast food, television, commuting, and working moms. Then theytarget some surprising causes, including health insurance. On theflip side, they detail the economic consequences of obesity. Forinstance, obese employees take more sick days than do normal-weightemployees-and their paychecks are slimmer. The authors highlightfascinating new scientific research into the causes of obesity andoffer tips on lightening your load over the long haul. This bookserves up a healthy selection for public and academic librarybusiness collections.--Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin,Whitewater (Library Journal, January 2008) Everyone knows Americans are growing fatter, but healtheconomist Finkelstein crunches the economic figures behind thenation's obesity epidemic and the results aren't pretty. Along withhealth-care writer Zuckerman, researcher Finkelstein delves intohow modern technology reduces the cost of producing higher-calorieprocessed goods, decreases our activity level and puts our healthin danger. Finkelstein debunks myths about the long-range cost offood production and consumption and scrutinizes the impact ofgenetics and U.S. fiscal policy on the nation's waistline,frequently using economics metrics in his analysis. Generous withsummaries of major points, Finkelstein simplifies current stats toexplain how the country's thunderous weight gain is strainingMedicare and Medicaid and hurting our military readiness. The onlypositive effect he sees from the obesity epidemic is the creationof the "ObesEconomy"--a market sustained by gyms,diet drugs and other products and services designed to curb weightgain. Horrified by studies that reveal that obese children have aquality of life similar to children with cancer, the investigatoryeconomist even throws in some health tips on dropping pounds.Despite a frequent reliance on economic tools and indicators, thiscombination study/motivational guide makes for a pleasanteducational read, comparable to a vegetable puree snuck into adessert. (Jan.) (Publishers Weekly, December 3,2007) "Finkelstein's tone is chatty andaccessible...obesity is ultimately bad economics."(Financial Times, Saturday 16th February 2008) "The authors show there is a casual relationship betweenthe growth of the waistline and the changing shape of theeconomy." (Securities & Investment Review,March 2008)