Tackling the Obesity Crisis

The incidence of obesity has increased rapidly since 1980. The purpose of this book is to review public health approaches to this pandemic and describe why they have failed. Based on this, possible alternatives are discussed. A theme of the book is that to understand obesity you need to take nutritional, psychological, biochemical and physiological viewpoints, as well as a societal perspective. Yet public health policy has been characterized by simplistic approaches that often consider only one aspect of a particular discipline. Too often it has been claimed that one factor, for example fat or sugar, has caused obesity, or can have a major impact on it. To have any chance of influencing the prevalence of obesity, the size of the necessary changes, and complexity of the situation, must be recognized. Reducing the incidence of obesity is an urgent task and this book is intended to stimulate discussion, encourage public health policy makers and government to defend their policies, and consider alternatives. It is written in an accessible language, explaining connections in an easy to understand manner and is thus written for everyone interested in weight control and public health policy. About the Author: David Benton is Professor of Psychology at Swansea University in the United Kingdom. He has for over forty years been studying the influence of diet on cognition, mood, and behaviour. His work is internationally known and has resulted in invitations from over twenty-five countries on six continents. He has been asked by the House Parliament, House of Lords and Downing Street, to give advice to the UK government on obesity, hyperactivity and school breakfasts.