Obesity

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-A bright yellow cover sporting the posterior view of an enormously overweight woman in a yellow-and-pink tie-dyed outfit is a startlingly vivid introduction to this book. Chapter titles illustrate the difficulty inherent in discussing the subject objectively. "The Moving Target: Defining Obesity" discusses the changes in body fashion from the zaftig, voluptuous look so valued in earlier centuries when having enough to eat was a gauge of wealth to the increasing promotion of thin, even anorexic-looking images advertised in the last 50 years. Other chapters present an overview of the psychological, sociological, and physical aspects of being overweight and a discouraging analysis of various diets and plans. The promise and problems inherent in fat-reducing products and treatments and prevention are also examined. The volume concludes with lists of references, contact organizations, an extensive bibliography, and an index, making it ideal for research as well as for personal information. Black-and-white photos, charts, diagrams, and cartoons are effective, and sometimes humorous. While innumerable self-help guides are published on diet and eating disorders, books on the broader implications of obesity are rare for this age range.-Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|