I recently read Fat Land, by Greg Critser. It was not exactly what I expected. I actually expected a book about, well, things I already knew (the evils of high-saturated fat, high cholesterol, carcinogenic animal foods).
Summary: Fat Land was more of a political book than a dietary book, explaining the political pressures on lawmakers from fast food companies, and national agricultural policy that shaped how our food came to us.
What I liked: I did learn quite a bit about why America (especially America's youth) is getting larger. It taught me a lot about the inner business of fast food, not just their evils. For example, it talked about pouring contracts (deals with schools to serve only one kind of soda, for example) and ways brands are assailing our children younger and younger (McDonald's, Pepsi, M&M, etc. donates school nutritional materials and other ways to incorporate themselves into lessons). Luckily, Critser does not blame the schools exclusively; with our school system forever cash-strapped, he reminds us that turning down a seven-figure contract to sell fast food on campus at no cost to them, or free "educational" materials is extremely difficult. Critser also explains modern state and town politics, and how people have the option to change these frightening realities by organizing, voting and educating others. I also liked that he was very cut-and-dry about the solutions to some childhood obesity problems: It starts at home. To bring down a child's weight, you must amend your own eating and leisure habits as well as theirs. Telling Johnny to eat his carrot sticks then run a mile doesn't cut it if you're sitting in front of the TV with a pint of fudge ripple.
What I didn't like: Critser droned a bit. His book became very difficult to read at some points, and it was hard to stay motivated. He also focused very exclusively on one DOA (Dpt. of Agriculture) head, as opposed to touching on policy changes of many that greatly affected this. While I liked his clear cut message, by the end it was getting a little didactic. I also disliked his heavy reliance on statistics. I am a visual learner: I'd rather see the chart than read about it (to be fair, he has several charts in the back of the book, but they do not really make up for the huge number of statistics he uses).
Overall: I would give it a 7 out of 10.
Alternative review:
Publishers Weekly
You reap what you sow. According to Critser, a leading journalist on health and obesity, America about 30 years ago went crazy sowing corn. Determined to satisfy an American public that "wanted what it wanted when it wanted it," agriculture secretary Earl Butz determined to lower American food prices by ending restrictions on trade and growing. The superabundance of cheap corn that resulted inspired Japanese scientists to invent a cheap sweetener called "high fructose corn syrup." This sweetener made food look and taste so great that it soon found its way into everything from bread to soda pop. Researchers ignored the way the stuff seemed to trigger fat storage. In his illuminating first book (which began life as a cover story for Harper's Magazine), Critser details what happened as this river of corn syrup (and cheap, lardlike palm oil) met with a fast-food marketing strategy that prized sales-via supersized "value" meals-over quality or conscience. The surgeon general has declared obesity an epidemic. About 61% of Americans are now overweight-20% of us are obese. Type 2 (i.e., fat-related) diabetes is exploding, even among children. Critser vividly describes the physical suffering that comes from being fat. He shows how the poor become the fattest, victimized above all by the lack of awareness. Critser's book is a good first step in rectifying that. In vivid prose conveying the urgency of the situation, with just the right amount of detail for general readers, Critser tells a story that they won't be able to shake when they pass the soda pop aisle in the supermarket. This book should attract a wide readership.
Book Details:
Title: Fat Land
Author: Greg Critser
Hardcover edition: 240 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; January 14, 2003
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618164723
ASIN: B000TVIW6E
Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
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