Books : Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss---and the Myths and Realities of Dieting
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 613
EAN: 9780312427856
ISBN: 0312427859
Label: Picador
Manufacturer: Picador
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 272
Publication Date: April 29, 2008
Publisher: Picador
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Sales Rank: 15462
Studio: Picador
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
In this eye-opening report, New York Times science writer Gina Kolata shows that our society's obsession with dieting is less about keeping trim and staying healthy than about money, power, trends, and impossible ideals. Kolata's account of four determined dieters in a study comparing the Atkins diet to a low-calorie one becomes a broad tale of science and society, of social mores and social sanctions, and of the place of diets in American society. Brimming with anecdote, scientific data, and common sense, Rethinking Thin offers a challenge to the conventional wisdom about diets and weight loss.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Kolata convincingly describes both the pain of repeated dieting, by following subjects in a research study, while explaining the science behind the futility of weight loss programs.
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I picked up this book after reading countless books and articles (in consumer magazines, albeit, not medical journals) about weight loss. So many books are single minded in saying what they need to in order to support their method of weight loss and conveniently do not include any evidence that throws into their idea into question. Because of this I was interested in this book because it sounded like it would tell the other side of the story and in fact it did.
The book weaves the stories of overweight Americans participating in a medical study to lose weight (either on Atikins or a low fat diet) with facts and statistics about dieting in America going all the way back to the 1800's. Although I enjoyed reading the stories of the study participants I found the latter to be the most intriguing. I think I have a tendency to think of dieting as something largely taking place in the 20th and 21st century so it was interesting to hear about the remedies dating back much further.
Overall I think this book was intriguing and had a lot of great facts. The author makes the point pretty strongly that genetics largely come into play when determining a healthy weight range and yet, we are taught that we can weigh as little as we want if we only have enough will power and want it badly enough. I also thought the point that being over weight does not always mean a shortened life span and higher rate of death. There were so many interesting things brought up in this book though ... Read More
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As someone in the healthcare industry, who has read all the popular books and has a solid grounding in the human sciences, it is refreshing to read the actual facts from research. There are people who's livelihood depends on the promotion of the myth of weight loss. As someone who has lost and gained back 50 lbs twice while visiting the gym 3 to 4 times a week, I can attest that diets and exercise don't work.
Genetics is king.
Over 100 years of peer reviewed laboratory research bears this out. This book is well documented to back up the information given. No more Body for Life or Dean Ornish nonsense. No more guilt for feeling weak when a dieter fails. 99% of dieter fail and that puts us strongly in the NORMAL category of people. As is pointed out, the only successful method of weight loss over a period of 3 years or more is surgery.
Finally someone comes out and tells the truth.
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a well-researched and concrete book i contstantly recommend to anyone interested in food, weight or health. probably my all-time favorite read in the generalized 'health' category.
also changed the way i view the obese and helped me overcome my own eating issues. a truly wonderful book.
Rating: -
The book challenges many widely established beliefs on dieting, controlling weight, and obesity on the basis of a review of research on the topic (some of which has not received as much attention as it deserved because it did not fit current expectations and industry interests). The book does not suggest a path to shed any extra pounds, but makes you think about your personal and our societal relationship with weight, obesity and thinness.
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