Fat Land: How Americans Became
the Fattest People in the World by
Greg Critser
An In-Depth Look At Reasons Beyond The Usual
In this astonishing expose, journalist Greg Critser looks beyond the
sensational headlines to reveal why nearly 60 percent of Americans are
now overweight. Critsers sharp-eyed reportage and sharp-tongued
analysis make for a disarmingly funny and truly alarming book. Critser
investigates the many factors of American life -- from supersize to Super
Mario, from high-fructose corn syrup to the high cost of physical education
in schools -- that have converged and conspired to make us some of the
fattest people on the planet. He also explains why pediatricians are
treating conditions rarely before noticed in children, why Type 2 diabetes is
on the rise, and how agribusiness has unwittingly altered the American
diet.
Personal Review: Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest
People in the World by Greg Critser

This book examines some of the various factors behind the current obesity
epidemic in the United States. Critser, who formerly indulged in junk food
himself, came to the realization one day that he was fat. He determined to
do something about it, and put himself on a strict diet and fitness plan to
get back in shape. Along the way, he also decided to investigate not only
how he had managed to put on so much weight, but also how his
neighbors and their kids had managed to become some of the fattest
people on the planet.
Critser puts much of the blame on corn syrup and palm oil, two ingredients
which have made it possible to supply more calories than ever at lower
cost. Because of the low cost of these ingredients, the food industry,
particularly those companies producing snacks, desserts, and fast foods,
have been able to keep costs and prices low, within the budget of even the
poorest of the poor. Indeed, as Critser points out, junk food and fast food
is priced so low, it may be the only food poor people can afford to buy,
which contributes to inordinate proportion of obesity amongst the country's
lowest economic segments. Critser also discusses factors leading to less
activity for the young, such as decreased hours for physical education
instruction in school, and a physical education curriculum that focuses on
recognizing the already fit and physically gifted rather than helping the
average or below average kid.
Overall, the book is an interesting excursus into the causes of obesity in
the modern American diet. While Critser does an admirable job of
examining political decisions, marketing maneuvers, parenting styles, and
technological factors behind the rise of obesity in America, there are still
other topics he doesn't include in this book, such as anti-pedestrian
development policies and cheap gas. (In countries where gas is much
more expensive, people ride bikes and walk rather than drive cars, burning
more calories than carbons.) And even if phys ed programs are required
every day of the week for school children, they may not make a dent in the
obesity epidemic unless they focus on developing lifelong fitness habits
rather than team sport skills or simple physical activities popular with
children. Nevertheless, the book is well worth reading for understanding
why we are so fat as a nation and how we can begin to address the
problem.
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