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Läski Maailma (2008)

by Barry Popkin(Favorite Author)
3.03 of 5 Votes: 2
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review 1: This book has lots of interesting facts, but a bit dry to read. I learned a lot of interesting things from it. He compares 4 different families across time: his own family growing up in the 50's, a Mexican family who recently immigrated to the U.S., an Indian family from the 80's when he was studying over there, and a modern Indian family. And it is very interesting to see the comparasions between how they eat and how much movement they do.The author says there are 4 trends in the way that we eat that have been detrimental to our health: snacking, weekend eating, supersizing and eating away from home. He uses his 1950's childhood for example. (I could relate to a lot of this from my 1960's childhood) He didn't snack as a child. Maybe when he came home from school, he woul... mored get a small glass of milk, but no cookies or chips, etc. People today seem to eat more on the weekends, going out, having parties with friends, etc. Supersizing is a trend that occured during the 80's and eating away from home has become much more prevalent than it was in the author's childhood (or mine). He talked about trends in France. You know the book: "French women don't get fat"? He attributes that to portion control and slow eating (taking a long time over a meal). Beginning in 1904, the French government played a strong role in supporting the "puericulture" movement- the care of a child before and after birth. They established clinics to teach young mothers about portion control! Not only the proper food for a growing child, but the appropriate quantity. As fast food invades the French culture, some of this is changing, but the French Government also controls the advertising directed at children. You won't find Coke in a middle school vending machine in France.Obesity is becoming more of a problem even in developing countries as people start trending away from their traditional diets and doing less physical work.
review 2: I have always been a Foodie, and I enjoy reading about how food affects our health, personally, culturally and globally. Very well written, with lots of useful information. Never having liked pop or sugary drinks, I'm happy to say that at least I don't have to work on eliminating that particular bad habit, but it is shocking to see big companies promoting their less than healthful products to small children. Who knew that in some places McDonalds buys the right to put their advertising on school report cards? I liked Popkin's suggestions to transition to a more healthy lifestyle, but I applaud his courage to suggest that in order for big companies to change their practices they would have to be hit where it hurts, and that's of course where the money is. But that won't happen as long as we are all content to eat the unhealthy fare that is being offered to us. less
Reviews (see all)
courtney
An interesting overview into why the world is facing an obesity epidemic. Quick read.
Kelly
Won this book from First Reads. It was intersting but nothing to shout about.
venita
Got me thinking, but not really that well written. Very lecture-y.
martina
Interesting but didn't get as much out if it as I imagined
mimicria
This parody title really cracked me up...
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