Obesity: A Reference Handbook

by Judith S. Stern, Alexandra Kazaks

Overview

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in countries like the United States. This book provides a comprehensive summary of obesity in America and around the world, discussing the causes and proposing ways to help stem the tide and to help those who are overweight.

A highly useful and accessible resource for high school to undergraduate students as well as post-graduate level readers with an interest in health and nutrition, this updated second edition of Obesity: A Reference Handbook offers up-to-date answers to essential questions about obesity and connected societal and health care-related issues.

A single-volume, go-to resource, this book addresses difficult questions such as whether obesity is a disease or a moral failing; what factors contribute to obesity; what the economic impacts of obesity are on the health care industry; if and how poverty is a contributor to obesity; how our society encourages obesity; and how changes can be made to improve our society's eating habits as a whole. It presents citations from individuals and peer-reviewed jourbanals and review articles, providing a balance of information sourced from both professionals and informed lay commentators. Also included are dozens of biographies of individuals who have been important in studying, preventing, managing, or increasing awareness about obesity, such as Jared Fogle, longtime Subway sandwiches spokesperson; Kelly Brownell, who coined the phrase "toxic environment" to describe unhealthy food and exercise patterns; researcher Ethan Allen Sims, who examined the relationship between obesity and diabetes; and Oprah Winfrey, well-known celebrity who stated that if there were a pill to lose weight or a magic diet, she would have it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440838040
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/13/2015
Series:	Contemporary World Issues
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Judith S. Stern, ScD, RD, is distinguished professor emeritus in nutrition and internal medicine at University of California, Davis.

Alexandra Kazaks, PhD, RDN, CDE, is a professor at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA, where she teaches a wide range of nutrition-related classes to undergraduates, graduate students, medical professionals, and the general public.

Table of Contents

Preface,
1 Background and History,
Introduction,
Defining and Measuring Overweight and Obesity,
Indirect Measuring Methods,
Obesity Trends in the United States,
Obesity as a National Health Problem,
Why Are We Overweight?,
Factors That Contribute to Obesity,
Can We Blame Obesity on Our Genes?,
Consequences of Overweight and Obesity,
Discrimination,
Economic Consequences,
We Live in an Obesogenic Environment,
References,
2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions,
Introduction,
Is Obesity a Disease?,
Is Obesity an Epidemic?,
Treatment of Obesity,
Diet Foods,
Adequate Nutrition Labeling,
Physical Activity,
Behavioral Strategies for Responding to an Obesogenic Environment,
Long-Term Success,
Medications: Nonprescription,
Prescription Medications: History and Current Weight Loss Options,
Obesity (Bariatric) Surgery,
Other Invasive Treatments for Obesity,
How Does the Health Care System Deal with Obesity?,
Why Can't We Just Prevent Obesity?,
Obesity as a Public Health Issue,
Affordable Care Act and Labeling,
Industry,
Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research,
Summary,
References,
3 Perspectives,
Obesities: Nikhil V. Dhurandhar,
References,
No More Obesity: Rajiv Narayan,
References,
Obesity Prevention: The Bathroom Scale Model—A Perspective on Weight Reduction, Weight Regain Prevention, and Obesity Prevention: Barbara Hansen,
References,
Pros and Cons of Dietary Supplements for Weight Management: Kelly Morrow,
Dietary Supplement Labeling,
What Are the Risks of Taking Supplements for Weight Management?,
How to Choose a Quality Supplement,
Where to Learn More about Supplements,
References,
Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Weight Management: Lyn O'Brien Nabors,
References,
Shape Up America! Vision for the Future: Focus on Childhood Obesity and Parenting: Barbara J. Moore,
4 Profiles,
Activists, Thinkers, and Researchers,
S. Daniel Abraham (b. 1924),
David Allison (b. 1963),
Elizabeth Applegate (b. 1956),
Arne Astrup (b. 1955),
Robert C. Atkins (1930–2003),
Richard L. Atkinson (b. 1942),
George Blackburban (b. 1936),
Steven N. Blair (b. 1939),
Claude Bouchard (b. 1939),
George A. Bray (b. 1931),
Kelly Brownell (b. 1951),
Henry Buckwald (b. 1932),
Jenny Craig (b. 1932),
Nikhil Dhurandhar (b. 1960),
William H. Dietz,
Adam Drewnowski (b. 1948),
Johanna Dwyer (b. 1938),
Katherine M. Flegal (b. 1944),
Jared Fogle (b. 1977),
Jeffrey M. Friedman (b. 1954),
M. R. C. Greenwood (b. 1943),
Barbara Hansen (b. 1941),
Marion M. Hetherington (b. 1961),
James O. Hill (b. 1951),
Hippocrates (460 BC–370 BC),
Jules Hirsch (b. 1927–2015),
W. P. T. James (b. 1938),
Patricia R. Johnson (b. 1931),
Robin B. Kanarek (b. 1946),
Janet King (b. 1941),
Ahmed Kissebah (1937–2013),
C. Everett Koop (1916–2013),
John Kral (b. 1939),
Shiriki Kumanyika (b. 1945),
Jack LaLanne (1914–2011),
Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794),
Rudolph Leibel (b. 1942),
Maimonides (1135–1204),
Jean Mayer (1920–1993),
Barbara J. Moore (b. 1947),
Jean Neiditch (1923–2015),
Michelle Obama (b. 1964),
Xavier Pi-Sunyer (b. 1933),
Nathan Pritikin (1915–1985),
Barbara J. Rolls (b. 1945),
Wim H. M. Saris (b. 1949),
Ethan Allen Sims (1916–2010),
Sachiko St. Jeor (b. 1941),
Albert J. Stunkard (1922–2014),
Oprah Winfrey (b. 1954),
Rena Wing (b. 1945),
David A. York (b. 1945),
Agencies, Programs, and Organizations,
Government Agencies and National Programs and Initiatives,
International Agencies and Organizations,
Nonprofit, Professional, and Trade Organizations,
5 Data and Documents,
Data,
Figure 5.1 Trends in adult overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity,
Figure 5.2 Food away-from-home expenditures divided by total food expenditures,
Figure 5.3 Algorithm for the assessment and treatment of overweight and obesity,
Table 5.1 1943 Metropolitan Life Height and Weight Table for Women,
Table 5.2 1942 Metropolitan Life Height and Weight Table for Men,
Table 5.3 Body Mass Index (BMI) Chart,
Table 5.4 Determining Percentage Body Fat Using Skinfold Calipers,
How to Measure Body Area Skinfolds,
Estimation of Percent Fat with Siri Equation,
Table 5.5 USDA Estimated Calorie Needs per Day by Age, Gender, and Physical Activity Level,
Table 5.6 USDA Pyramid Food Intake Patterns, Daily Amount of Food from Each Group,
Table 5.7 Daily Food Record Form,
Table 5.8 Types of Diet Plans with Claims and Advantages,
Documents,
Government Reports,
Legislation,
6 Resources for Further Research,
Books,
Reference Books,
Popular Books,
Reports,
Guidelines,
Jourbanals and Magazines,
Web Sites,
General Population Information and Interactive Sites,
Children and Adolescents Information and Interactive Sites,
Databases,
Calculators and Counters,
7 Chronology,
Glossary,
Index,
About the Authors,