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Rating: 
Summary: Read this book before your next trip to the grocery store!
Review: After reading Kelly Brownell's factual, rational and well-balanced book about the food industry and the American obesity crisis, I came away with the realization that basically the food industry is determined to turn all of us into foie gras. As Brownell, Director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders, and co-author Katherine Horgen methodically demonstrate, the now global epidemic of obesity is anything but a lonely individual battle against overeating. Instead, we are victims of a host of factors that tip the scales dramatically against all of us: supersizing, saturation advertising from infancy on, aggressive lobbying, fast food and sugar-laden soft drinks in schools, the high cost and difficulty of finding healthy foods, plus all the factors that keep us sitting passively rather than exercising. It's a public health problem of enormous size, and as Brownell and Horgen consistently point out, it requires a political and environmental solution.While the authors back up their argument with authoritative research, statistics and analysis, I was most struck by some of the details they reported: baby bottles with soft-drink logos, Ronald McDonald's 100% recognition rate among American children, the 70% of eight-year-olds who rate fast foods as healthier than home cooking, the fact that feeding a family with healthy food costs 50% more than with junk food, that many "servings" are up to seven times larger than those the USDA statistics on fat, carbohydrates and calories are based on, and, as has been widely reported, the projection that the current generation of overfed, under-exercised, diabetes-and-heart-disease-prone children may be the first in recent history to live shorter lives than their parents and grandparents. We Americans are used to tackling challenges and problems individually. In many cases, that's a great quality. But when an entire generation is being supersized, with enormous impacts on health and well-being, we need a different approach. Brownell and Horgen spend the last third of the book developing a coherent, thoughtful and much-needed societal approach to the obesity epidemic. If you want to understand why this public-health epidemic has burgeoned now, and what we as a society can do about it, _Food Fight_ is the place to start. Robert Adler, Ph.D., author of _Medical Firsts: From Hippocrates to the Human Genome (John Wiley & Sons, March 2004).
Rating: 
Summary: Bite-Sized Solutions to a Big Problem
Review: After reading the first few chapters of Food Fight, I thought "same old stuff." Americans are too fat, eat a poor diet, don't get enough exercise, what else is new. After a few more chapters, I became overwhelmed with the magnitude of the problem. The fast food companies and agribusiness corporations are too powerful, health care organizations are not really interested in solving the problem, and even the schools are inundated with Channel One advertising and contracts from soft drink companies. How on earth can we even begin to address this problem? Is there any hope? Then Brownell gets into solutions. Of course the individual needs to take responsibility and eat less, eat better, and exercise more. But communities need to demand changes, such as limits on what kind of advertising the kids see while they are in school, classes (for kids and adults) on nutrition and exercise, neighborhood walking and bicycle paths in safe places. And governments should be involved as well, providing national ad spots about health and fitness, perhaps using the anti-tobacco campaigns as a guideline. Brownell discusses the solutions in the last part of the book, then ends with a handy summary of recommended actions. What starts as a rather depressing book turns out to be a positive, optimistic look at what we can do at different levels to tackle a growing problem.
Rating:
Summary: Bite-Sized Solutions to a Big Problem
Review: After reading the first few chapters of Food Fight, I thought "same old stuff." Americans are too fat, eat a poor diet, don't get enough exercise, what else is new. After a few more chapters, I became overwhelmed with the magnitude of the problem. The fast food companies and agribusiness corporations are too powerful, health care organizations are not really interested in solving the problem, and even the schools are inundated with Channel One advertising and contracts from soft drink companies. How on earth can we even begin to address this problem? Is there any hope? Then Brownell gets into solutions. Of course the individual needs to take responsibility and eat less, eat better, and exercise more. But communities need to demand changes, such as limits on what kind of advertising the kids see while they are in school, classes (for kids and adults) on nutrition and exercise, neighborhood walking and bicycle paths in safe places. And governments should be involved as well, providing national ad spots about health and fitness, perhaps using the anti-tobacco campaigns as a guideline. Brownell discusses the solutions in the last part of the book, then ends with a handy summary of recommended actions. What starts as a rather depressing book turns out to be a positive, optimistic look at what we can do at different levels to tackle a growing problem.
Rating: 
Summary: What About the Diet Industry?
Review: Do any of these people live in California?!! Is this being done in some Mc Donalds heavy midwestern back water? Because this is not my reality! I literally cannot turn on the t.v. without hearing about how fat Americans are intercut by endless lengthly ads for designer drugs for weight control (if not others ethereally and cheerfully explaining why ritalin is such an uplifiting and caring solution for grade schoolers!), Jenny Craig, "Carb Options" what have you. If we have learned anything in the 80s and 90s it's that obsessing about food causes eating disorders-be it anorexia or binge eating-they are opposite sides of the same coin! I would hope the diet industry is receiving just as much consternation from the author as the soda industry. Many an average weight, moderate eating american has gone on a diet-fitness rutine- (Your Dean Ornish-ish eating less, moving more, hit the unrepentent fat americans over the head rutine) simply becuase in recent years, for example a 22 year old sadly, self-rejectingly and almost mysteriously feels she's fat and wishes she could get down to the 90 lbs. she weighed at 12-only to ultimately down the road actually become overweight, in absolutely worse shape, AND uncontrollably obsessed with food. A lot of shortsighted Amercans are to blame-if not out of greed, certainly out of being inadequately informed-not just the politically incorrect ones.
We're only now seeing the disasterous results of the low fat high carb craze-yes a craze believe it or not where people were eating less (maybe a desciplined once a day binge -and the periodic rejoicing at contracting an appetite surpressing flu. Throwing bitter recriminations at themselves for ever actually needing to eat at all! A way of life where one desperately tries to survive on fake food and cut back on meat-anything with fat-who knew there were good and bad fats- struggling through workouts with-surprise!-no energy or motivation. This is what so many Americans do because they feel bad about eating at all-esp. the previously filling staples that now induce guilt-like red meat, thinking they are failures for not being able to fill up on those unsustaining but politically correct "grains." Where-oh where-has this anorexic thinking author been?! AND yes I am in walking distance from gyms, juice bars, and of course every 3 blocks Starbucks-b/c now they are finding that completely cutting out fat causes stimant dependence. (Anyone notice the rise in Starbucks coincides with the low-fat eat less-eat more cheap earth sustaining carbs craze?!!)
Yes I should read the book-but I can't avoid hearing the same old clueless crap regardless-so is there truly a need? Time to move my fat @$$ off the computer and walk-yes I walk-to Jamba Juice (who knew the fructose in healthy juice was fattening?). Hopefully I won't be killed by an SUV along the way. No I will see few soda vendor machines along the way either-kinda went the way of cigarette machines. But hight strung joggers who act like there on speed and make me feel fat and high in body fat percentages regardless of how I look-there are always plenty of those.
Rating:
Summary: What About the Diet Industry?
Review: Dr. Kelly Brownell has spent much of his career fighting the food industry's attempts to make us all fat. He brings a crusader's passion and a scientist's accuracy and thoroughness to "Food Fight". He and co-author Katherine Horgen see obesity as a public health crisis like smoking or drunk driving. They take the social movement against smoking as a model and call on us all to get involved, for our own sake and our children's. This book is extremely well-referenced, drawing on scientific articles, popular journalism and books like Fast Food Nation. Brownell and Horgen reveal the huge scope of America's problem with weight and tell how the problem is spreading all over the world. They show how the food industry has penetrated schools, government agencies, and entertainment media to market sugary, fatty foods to adults and children. Brownell is especially concerned about children, who lack the power to defend themselves against food advertising and easily available sweets. He demolishes the "personal responsibility" argument used by the calorie pushers. How can children be expected to say "no" to food that tastes good, is readily available in their schools and communities, is recommended by their favorite media characters or sports stars, and which nobody is warning them against? The authors give dozens of suggestions for social changes that could increase physical activity (ex. bike paths), reduce soft drink consumption (ex a small tax that would go to fund nutrition education and provision of healthy school lunches), and make healthy food more available (a problem for a very large number of people in America.) They also have lots of good suggestions for political activism. What "Food Fight" does not include is strategies for individuals and families to protect themselves and live healthier lives. That's not what the book is about - it's about the politics of food, and how we can change the environment so that healthy living becomes easier. The writing style is clear, although not especially entertaining. But there is some humor, such as a subheading on the huge size of restaurant portions: "Nelson, party of four: your muffin is ready." Food Fight is a political manifesto by a crusader who has already been attacked repeatedly by the food industry. He makes a strong case, one I will use in my upcoming book, "The Politics of Diabetes." I encourage readers to support Dr. Brownell and Horgen's cause. David Spero RN, author of The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness (Hunter House 2002) www.DavidSperoRN.com
Rating:
Summary: Passionate Crusader, Excellent Book
Review: Dr. Kelly Brownell has spent much of his career fighting the food industry's attempts to make us all fat. He brings a crusader's passion and a scientist's accuracy and thoroughness to "Food Fight". He and co-author Katherine Horgen see obesity as a public health crisis like smoking or drunk driving. They take the social movement against smoking as a model and call on us all to get involved, for our own sake and our children's. This book is extremely well-referenced, drawing on scientific articles, popular journalism and books like Fast Food Nation. Brownell and Horgen reveal the huge scope of America's problem with weight and tell how the problem is spreading all over the world. They show how the food industry has penetrated schools, government agencies, and entertainment media to market sugary, fatty foods to adults and children. Brownell is especially concerned about children, who lack the power to defend themselves against food advertising and easily available sweets. He demolishes the "personal responsibility" argument used by the calorie pushers. How can children be expected to say "no" to food that tastes good, is readily available in their schools and communities, is recommended by their favorite media characters or sports stars, and which nobody is warning them against? The authors give dozens of suggestions for social changes that could increase physical activity (ex. bike paths), reduce soft drink consumption (ex a small tax that would go to fund nutrition education and provision of healthy school lunches), and make healthy food more available (a problem for a very large number of people in America.) They also have lots of good suggestions for political activism. What "Food Fight" does not include is strategies for individuals and families to protect themselves and live healthier lives. That's not what the book is about - it's about the politics of food, and how we can change the environment so that healthy living becomes easier. The writing style is clear, although not especially entertaining. But there is some humor, such as a subheading on the huge size of restaurant portions: "Nelson, party of four: your muffin is ready." Food Fight is a political manifesto by a crusader who has already been attacked repeatedly by the food industry. He makes a strong case, one I will use in my upcoming book, "The Politics of Diabetes." I encourage readers to support Dr. Brownell and Horgen's cause. David Spero RN, author of The Art of Getting Well: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness (Hunter House 2002) www.DavidSperoRN.com
Rating:
Summary: An Important Message - Again
Review: For those of you who have been living in a cave on Pluto for the past half century and still haven't heard, Americans are fat (two thirds are overweight) and getting fatter. This book tells the same story but in a light, frank and easily readable style that is more likely to be palatable to the general reader. The accessibility is increased by summarizing quasi-important points in small boxes throughout the text. The documentation is also a bit more complete than that found in other recent works . The title derives from the very real battle between those who want (or should want) a healthy lfe style for themselves and their family and the all powerful food industry whose influence reaches the highest levels of government and encourages everyone, especially children, to overindulge in the worst possible but most profitable food. The simple facts are that, in spite of the best intentions of the best parents, children are vulnerable to the siren attractions of Ronald MacDonald and fat children almost inevitably become fat adults. And fat adults are rapidly becoming the most significant health concern in the nation. This book explains the process in greater detail in a manner that leaves out most of the science but will be more digestible for the "science challenged", a group which, regrettably, also constitutes a majority of our population. In the same spirit, the authors' reasoning is generally trivial and the text endlessly repetitive. But if that's what it takes to get the message across then so be it. One value of this book for the average reader lies significantly in lists of recommendations that are keyed to each chapter, some of which might be incorporated into letters to your political leaders at all levels of government. So jog down to your local library or book store, pick up this book and start writing letters.
Rating:
Summary: Not an entirely satisfying read
Review: This book hopes to explain why the world is currently facing a childhood obesity crsis. It places blame on multimedia and national apathy, rather than on individual action. While most of the authors points are well made and researched, the book covers material that has been widely available to most North Americans. Solutions are suggested, but some are not well thought out, and perpetuate other social and global concerns such as child labour in third world countries. While educational, this is not an entirely satisfying read.
Rating: 
Summary: Being overweight isn't your fault, he says
Review: Wow, what a depressing book Kelly Brownell has written. Agribusiness is apparently creating a "toxic environment" for us, especially children, and that environment makes it IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to choose foods wisely.
As social science goes, this is garbage. As for even remotely enlightened insight into how any business works, it's one of the stupidest books I've ever read.
To begin with, Mr. Brownell is obese himself, which is rather shocking from the director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders. Like Dr. Phil McGraw, he has ZERO business writing a book about obesity.
This topic is absolutely, concretely germane to his work. After all, a constant theme in the book is that Big Scary Food Companies have Big Scary Vested Interests in producing "toxic" foods. Wouldn't a fat person have a vested interest in writing a book blaming his fatness on anything other than himself?
Where to begin with the distortions here? My favorite, which is an overarching narrative throughout Food Fight: It's apparently cheaper to eat junk food, according to Brownell, which is why the poor are so much more likely to be obese than the rest of the population.
As someone who made his way through grad school on a weekly food budget of about $25, I'm here to tell you that black beans, brown rice and non-exotic fruits/vegetables bought in season are MUCH cheaper than a $5 trip to McDonald's or Taco Bell three times a day. And the beans/rice/vegetables diet has the added advantage of being nutritionally dense instead of calorically so.
Poor people also smoke, drink alcohol and do drugs at much higher rates than the general population. Is this because ciggies are cheaper than air, gin cheaper than water and drugs cheaper than jogging for endorphins? Does Mr. Brownell not understand that the same people who make poor money/employment/education choices often make poor dietary/substance consumption choices as well? But because he, an important Yale faculty member, is obese, he cannot see the general impulse-control problems that rule poor people's lives.
Brownell is right that we're genetically programmed to want high concentrations of calories. Where he's so wrong it hurts is that he believes the producers, not the consumers, are at fault when eaters overindulge. Again, being obese himself, he probably really believes that he's not in control when he's stuffing Malomars down his gullet.
Bottom line to Kelly Brownell's "science:" People are so dad-blamed stupid that they eat whatever's advertised on TV. They're just zombies with a taste for Big Macs instead of human flesh. Parents are powerless to refuse their children's demands for Ding Dongs and Frosted Flakes. Food companies must quit selling the high-calorie items that are their most popular, or governments must start suing them, a la the tobacco industry.
Moronic. Mr. Brownell needs to start where the real responsibility lies: In his own (obese) mouth.
Rating:
Summary: Eye popping look at America's march to obesity!
Review: Yowsa! This is a well researched account of how the food manufacturers are luring Americans into obesity beginning with our children.
Companies use product placement, product endorsement, product sizing and other factors to lure us into purchasing items that are not always the best for our health. By starting with our children, these manufacturers can capture a market and make profits for life.
Take soft drinks for example. Through active promotion, soda companies have encouraged greater consumption. According to Brownell, soda consumption in the eleven through seventeen age group has doubled within the past 20 years. Stores like 7-Eleven have increased the large size of pop from 16 oz to a 64 oz Double Gulp. Celebrities are used to push pop and brand name bottles show up on popular television shows.A twenty ounce bottle of a typical soft drink has 15 teaspoons of sugar. Is it any wonder that soda is the number one cause of obesity in children?
Brownell walks you through shocking examples of how Disney and other characters that are plastered on boxes of usually processed food items capture the child's desire. How sports heros like Michael Jordan (McDonald's) and entertainers like Garth Brooks (Dr. Pepper) are used to sell foods many of which are not in the consumers best interest.
Different manufactureres are out there lobbying to get your dollars and they are not thinking of your expanding girth or health. The sugar industry, for example, encourages the addition of sugar to everything from peanut butter to cereal to condiments to increase their bottomline (Americans consume 152 pounds per person per year).
The idea of MORE FOOD equals value is also covered. Why buy 1 taco at 89cents when you can have two for only a few cents more. Again encouraging consumption. Yes you can upgrade from that minibon to a classic cinnabon for only 48cents. But that 48cents will buy you 370 extra un-needed calories!
Brownell shares in depth the temptation our schools are facing. Many schools are selling out to pizza and soda companies. These rich producers offer millions of dollars to the educational system in exchange for brand placement. The schools eager to supplement their meager resources are loathe to turn it down.
Brownell also gives information on what we can do to stem the tide of the unhealthy food that is being foisted on us. He gives a number of suggestions including incentives for purchasing healthy foods, taxes on non-nutritious food, greater access and lower prices on real food and much more.
Most of us recognize that we are being targeted by the food producers. But as you read through this 358 page book you will realize just how far reaching the problem is. An excellent read for parents who are having a hard time resisting the call of "Blues Clues" fruit treats and for the eater who wonders why they just sucked in a muffin that could easily feed 4.
Excellent information and resource!
Lee Mellott
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