Big Fat Lies: The Truth About Your Weight and Your Health by Glenn A. Gaesser

by Glenn A. Gaesser

Do you believe that your weight should be within the range recommended by one of the various height-weight tables that are always appearing in books and magazines? That being overweight is unhealthy? That weight loss improves health?Have you ever been told by your doctor to lose weight? Are you currently dieting or contemplating going on a diet? Have diets failed you or made you feel like a failure? Do you feel people look down on you because of your weight? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then this book is for you.Millions of Americans stigmatized as “too fat” need to be reassured that the roads to good health are wide enough for everyone. Here’s proof that people can be overweight and still be fit and healthy. Glenn Gaesser, an exercise physiologist, challenges the conventional wisdom that excess body fat poses a danger to health. This is an authoritative, clearly written book that is crucial reading for anyone who wants to take concrete steps towards improving their health – no matter what their size.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Fat Studies, Food, Fat, Self Help, Feminism

Paperback Bunko

First published August 27, 1996

Reviews

[Peggy Elam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book -- I'd give it 5 stars but am deducting one for the last third of the book, which I recommend people ignore. The last section is a diet plan that Gaesser's original publisher insisted be included to (supposedly) make the book more marketable...and which is contradicted by the first two-thirds of the book.

Big Fat Lies presents research indicating that mainstream beliefs about the relationship between weight and health are wrong, and that weight-loss dieting can harm health. Highly recommended -- except for that last section.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fascinating...because it first bashes the weight loss industry for making you believe that you need to lose weight, and then offers a weight loss plan. What a douchebag.

[Salamanderinspace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for everyone. American schools should teach it. It contains so much great science. Fat IS NOT unhealthy. Fat IS NOT unfit.

I do have a few criticisms. One, the author focuses too much on blood pressure and cholesterol as indicators of health, as opposed to how people feel in their bodies. Two, and as a result of number one, in the last third of the book the author heavily recommends a regimen of restrictive eating (a diet where a maximum of %20 of calories consumed come from fat.) Now, this author cites loads of science about how dieting can cause disease and weight gain, but none about restrictive eating, which has similar effects.

These criticisms are fairly negligible, though, compared to how much great information there is in the text. There is a surprising amount of science about how weight loss is dangerous and obesity can be protective in many conditions.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many, many things I loved about this--mainly that Gaesser takes a completely empirical approach to examining the fat phobia currently afflicting most of America (health professionals included). The data is, in fact, quite damning of this panicked and moralistic view of "excess" weight (Have your doubts? See this peer-reviewed summary of the main points: http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content...). I also really like his completely sane and actually achievable recommendations regarding physical activity, which can be boiled down to the idea that activity in the broadest sense, even at low levels and broken into short spurts throughout the week, is what is beneficial (not sweat-drenched workouts that take place at a fancy gym under the watchful eye of a personal trainer). But...BUT...despite the fact that Gaesser is eminently reasonable about so many things, he ends his book by making recommendations (albeit reasonable) about a relatively low-fat approach to food. And that's my problem. It's a diet in sheep's clothing. My bias is that I think that someone who works to become a reasonably effective intuitive eater can and will learn to eat food that averages out to be healthy enough over time, but as a result of having and listening to their actual appetitive urges as opposed to top-down self-regulation. My bias is also that that's the most compassionate way to achieve long-term goals, for those who choose to make them for themselves. Despite the "BUT," this was still well-worth reading.

[Moi · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fascinating reexamination of the biological consequences to being overfat and of yo-yo dieting. the conclusions here fly in the face of all popular wisdom on health and weight. a fascinating, troubling read.

in the end the author makes a data-driven case that it is far healtheir to stably maintain overweight than (1) to ever, EVER diet and than (2) the lose-gain-lose-gain-lose weight cycle, which is critically dangerous for overall health.

pretty eye-opening.

we've been increasingly hearing people talk about fat acceptance and abandoning diet culture and learning to eat intuitively. this book provides the science underpinning those arguments and so is a must-read for anyone wishing to seriously and critically evaluate any regimen's health claims.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this book for my university class "Nutrition and Exercise Science" (much more complex than it sounds) and decided to reread it. I believe this book should be required reading for any one in my fields, dietetics and exercise science. Too many people think health is defined by size, whereas this book shows it is a healthful, consistent diet and exercise (but not the hard-core exercise everyone thinks of). I recommend this book to anyone that has ever dieted or considered it or has someone they care about that has done so. It is amazing all the studies that are out there that no one pays attention to.

[Sarah Rigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glenn has a higher degree in exercise physiology and is rigorous in backing up his assertions in this book. He talks about how most of what we think we know about food, exercise, and body weight are wrong. It only gets 3 stars because a) by now some of the science is outdated and b) he comes really close to a Health at Every Size stance but then includes some diet-like plans that could be triggering for some folks who are trying to overcome the weight loss dieting mentality.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

It wouldn't be much of an overstatement to say this book is changing the way I feel about myself for the better. I've done a fair amount of research on more updated studies than the ones mentioned here, and the evidence as best I can tell as a layman seems to hold up.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched questioning of the orthodoxy of "thin is always better". I suspect some of the research might be out-of-date given the advocation for low-fat alternatives with no mention of the high sugar content of low fat alternatives.

[Moni Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I thought this was a very informative book. It got a little bit overwhelming at times with all of the studies cited, but it was great that the author had the research to back up his facts. He also offered a good solution at the end for being healthy that doesn't put the focus on losing weight, but more on exercise and and watching fat intake. I learned a lot from this book and will look at diets differently from now on.

[Jeff Hayes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ever wonder if an author is lying to you, or if he's just ignorant? (I suppose it's right there in the title.) While I agree that obesity isnt a disease itself, I'm surprised that so many reviewers trumpet the science in this book, considering that there are no references. I Googled a few of the studies mentioned in the book and the author completely misinterpreted or ignored (I am being generous here) their findings, so I have little faith in the rest of what he is saying.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of research data that I will never remember but very informative book

[Jacqui · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a bunch of dated contradicting drivel.