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Rating: 
Summary: A bit repetitive...
Review: I appreciated the wealth of information contained in this well-researched book. I learned a great deal about the diet industry, and agree with Ms. Poulton that we are tricked into spending our money on something that isn't attainable. However, as one who suffers with super morbid obesity, I have never experienced the kind of discrimination that Ms. Poulton describes. I have certainly experienced discrimination throughout my life, but never the amount in a single day, as described by Ms. Poulton. She came across as angry and at times, vindictive. Those parts of the book turned me off. Otherwise, it was very informative, and enlightening.
Rating: 
Summary: A great place to start
Review: Terry Poulton is nothing if not passionate about what it means to be a "Fat Chick" today. Her writing style is sometimes cumbersome and awkward (she sometimes tells you what she is going to say, says it, then tells you what she said) but her subject matter is so compelling and so well researched you won't mind too much. The book is worthwhile for its bibliography alone, a "further reading" list of excellent books that will keep you happily engaged for a long time!
Rating:
Summary: A great place to start
Review: Terry Poulton is nothing if not passionate about what it means to be a "Fat Chick" today. Her writing style is sometimes cumbersome and awkward (she sometimes tells you what she is going to say, says it, then tells you what she said) but her subject matter is so compelling and so well researched you won't mind too much. The book is worthwhile for its bibliography alone, a "further reading" list of excellent books that will keep you happily engaged for a long time!
Rating:
Summary: An important message, but credibility is sometimes stretched
Review: The bottom line of Poulton's "No More Fat Chicks", is that the weight-loss industry is nothing more than a multi-billion dollar attempt to repress, depress and impress women into becoming unrealistic Twiggy clones.Now, whilst the above might indeed be true, there is one major point that Poulton never seems to fully address - that is, obesity IS a leading cause of heart disease (and therefore death) around the world, and it IS responsible for a myriad of health problems ranging from diabetes to cancer. This should never be forgotten or ignored when discussing obesity. Also, the author's sources are sometimes taken out of context, and in other examples simply not present at all. As an example, on p.56 she talks about a woman who "was allegedly told by her doctor that her obesity prevented pregnancy". There is actually more truth to this statement than is conceded to by the author (estrogen is stored in fat cells; the more fat cells you have, generally the more estrogen you have in your body, and unopposed estrogen is a leading cause of anovulation), but this is never addressed. Another example is on p.64, when Poulton cites "20 deaths...within the first 6 years...", referring to the introduction to the US of liposuction. What she fails to mention is the context - how many procedures were performed in this period? Is that 20 deaths out of 200 procedures? 2400? 24000? It's inconsistencies such as these which demean the author's credibility somewhat. Having said that, the book does highlight the very unhealthy obsession with weight-loss that is now pandemic. Interestingly (to me at least), the book was written only a year before the diet drugs Redux and Pondimin were taken off the market, after being found to cause significant heart valve damage (along with PPH) - I would be very interested to see an updated issue of the book, if only to see if this is addressed adequately. Do try to obtain a copy though - it's informative for the most, and it's an important book.
Rating: 
Summary: top notch read
Review: this is a wonderful book for anyone and everyone who struggles with body image problems, doubts, etc. Ms. Poulton gives a compelling argument for "it's all about the money" assessment that she makes. I ended up feeling very angry at the medical community, fashion/movie/glamour industries, etc for selling the idea that "thin is in". my motto now is "fat's where it's at" and I applaud her efforts at encouraging people to look at the way that society has been manipulated into hating themselves so that corporations can get FAT on our money and self-hate.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and enlightening
Review: Unlike other books about fat prejudice that take a "woe is me" approach, Terry Poulton's book, No Fat Chicks, fights back! She does an amazing job of explaining how big business exploits our insecurity about our bodies to make tons of money. If you enjoyed Laura Fraser's book Losing It, you'll love Terry Poulton's book, too.
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