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Why Women Need Fat: How "Healthy" Food Makes Us Gain Excess Weight and the Surprising Solution to Losing It Forever
The groundbreaking discovery that shows why women need fat to lose fat.
Why do women struggle so much with weight? Can women ever lose weight and keep it off?
In this research-driven and counterintuitive book, an anthropologist and a public health doctor team up to answer those questions. Blending anecdotal evidence with hard science, they explain how women's weight is controlled by evolution-but more important- they reveal how a change in diet three decades ago may be the reason women today are bigger than their grandmothers were.
Explaining why fat (both in our diet and in our body) is crucial to long-term health, the authors show not only why women tend (and need) to get heavier after having their first child, but also destroy cultural myths like "all fat is bad for you." Providing a plan that can help any woman achieve a natural, healthy weight- without dieting- "Why Women Need Fat" not only gives women the tools they need to shed weight, but also a better understanding of why those last five pounds seem impossible to lose.
Why do women struggle so much with weight? Can women ever lose weight and keep it off?
In this research-driven and counterintuitive book, an anthropologist and a public health doctor team up to answer those questions. Blending anecdotal evidence with hard science, they explain how women's weight is controlled by evolution-but more important- they reveal how a change in diet three decades ago may be the reason women today are bigger than their grandmothers were.
Explaining why fat (both in our diet and in our body) is crucial to long-term health, the authors show not only why women tend (and need) to get heavier after having their first child, but also destroy cultural myths like "all fat is bad for you." Providing a plan that can help any woman achieve a natural, healthy weight- without dieting- "Why Women Need Fat" not only gives women the tools they need to shed weight, but also a better understanding of why those last five pounds seem impossible to lose.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2011
7 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 13, 2012
A few years ago, I had one of those pointless online discussions where everyone’s opinion is already fixed. It was on the subject of fat, and fat content in our food. When talking about cooking something (was it carrot soup? maybe it was thai green curry?) my online sparring partner (it *was not* an exchange of ideas, it *was* one fixed idea meets my cry to read the research) stated that coconut milk would never make it into the household “as it has too much fat”.
I was shocked. Didn’t this person know that not all fats were bad? And why would someone just outright ban a food product from their house?
I suggested that fats were important for neurological function, and that maybe if interested I could lend a copy of my book by Udo Erasmus called “Good Fats Bad Fats” so that we could unpack whether or not coconut milk was actually “bad”.
Let’s just say that I didn’t lend my book out and the conversation ended, and since then I have kind of taken a less vocal stance (maybe, perhaps, I leave that for you to judge) in my online exchanges with people whose ideas are fixed and hard-fast. But just because I am less “vocal” that doesn’t mean that I have stopped reading and learning more about the body, food, nutrition, and balanced healthy living. So when I saw a link on a blog for a new book - a research review - on why fats are necessary, I had to get a copy. I mean, since my nutritionist Vicki Edgson introduced me to good fats and bad fats, and I learned what Omega 3s were, I have tried to eat a balanced diet with plenty of good fats. So why not learn more?
Written by a research anthropologist and a research medical doctor, Why Women Need Fat is a tour of research combined with practical suggestions on how to eat to obtain the body’s natural weight. Through research we see how the typical American (western) diet has changed over time - and the impact that consuming more processed food has had on our overall body composition and weight. The authors explore the reasons for the changes in perceptions of what constitutes healthy eating, exploring for example the unproven correlations between a low fat diet and heart healthy diet. Finally, by undertaking this comprehensive review of research as well as adding in their own analysis and studies, they aim to educate the reader. The book attempts to help the reader to understand the basis of why our body composition is what it is, and from there to help us to make better choices about food and eating, which in turn will lead to lead to a more natural and stable body weight and composition.
In searching for the original blog post I read, to link back to it, I came across a lot of other reviews for this book. Some were critical of the focus on women. Some were critical of how when the authors state that diets don’t work they embrace eating rules. Some simply quoted the relevant points they wanted to focus on taking away from the book, inviting their readers to comment.
I have struggled with how best to organise my review. I found the book interesting, scientifically based but easy to read, and with a few good takeaway points that I am more mindful of when I choose foods to eat / prepare at home. On my website I have included a full summary of the book - of the main sections with some quotes of facts I found interesting, as well as the lists and steps that I found in the book. I have also peppered the post with some reflections, particularly at the end with regard to the author’s section on establishing natural weight.
I will say that if you are interested in science and research and would like a reference book for how to eat good fats (omega-3s) then this is a great book. It is written in an accesible manner, and I read it on one long flight (so it is quick reading too). I find myself returning to it often for information or checking things. Unlike some other reviews I read, I was not bothered by the focus on women (versus men or people in general) - rather I found it interesting and a great biological explanation of the body in terms that a non-scientist like me could understand.
The crux of the book is that the authors advocate a return to eating whole foods - to buying non-industrial ingredients and making meals plentiful in omega-3 fats. They advocate that through this approach that we can return to our natural weight, our “set point”.
If you are eating the right foods and getting a reasonable amount of exercise, your weight should find its natural level.
Through research, lists and tips the authors help the reader to understand what the “right foods” are. But I can see how a trained nutritionist or dietitician would be beneficial in helping people with this - let's face it, it's a lot of information.
The book is peppered with examples of good and bad fats - high omega-3 foods, and omega-6 foods to stay away from. Although some people may say it is a bit repetitive, I *liked* the constant reminders. I am not a trained nutritionist, so I am not familiar with the ins and outs of food composition. So for me, reading the information more than once helped me to learn and embed ideas.
The authors also share some common sense tips to losing weight and getting back to our body’s natural weight as well as three methods of establishing natural weight (table, family history, and measurements).
Now I am not personally seeking to achieve weight loss, but I do find the tips full of common sense. I suspect implementing these small changes could be hard. One of the suggestions to do the small changes is to just cut out coffee in sugar to generate a 50 calorie a day deficit, which over a year could lead to 5 pounds of weight loss. But, how do you know if only cutting out sugar in coffee is going to achieve this result? Everything else you ate would have to be perfect, and even then the result will not be instant, it may be frustrating, it may not appear. I suspect to do this type of natural eating change a lot of people would first need to learn *how* to eat - learn about appropriate portion sizes, learn about how to menu plan, learn to cook… But for someone like me, who cooks a lot and who is diligent about the choices I make around food, this type of “intuitive” plan could work. And intuitively eating like these has meant that my weight has stayed pretty constant over the past few years.
I have to admit, I like this “natural common sense” approach a lot better than the regimented extremes that I read about. It just seems to me that success is easier if we don’t view our goals as hard to attain but achievable through diligence and balance. That just makes sense to me.
My key takeaway? Clearly, education on what to eat helps to inform healthier eating. So too does knowing how to cook. With a clean diet full of wholesome, natural, organic foods - foods that we cook and prepare ourselves rather than buying ready-made - we set ourselves up for maximum health. And by eating this way we don’t have to avoid treats and indulgences. We just need to be aware and understand the choices that we make in the context of our overall health.
Intuitive. Deceptively simple. But a method that seems natural, and that I am striving toward in my everyday eating.
I was shocked. Didn’t this person know that not all fats were bad? And why would someone just outright ban a food product from their house?
I suggested that fats were important for neurological function, and that maybe if interested I could lend a copy of my book by Udo Erasmus called “Good Fats Bad Fats” so that we could unpack whether or not coconut milk was actually “bad”.
Let’s just say that I didn’t lend my book out and the conversation ended, and since then I have kind of taken a less vocal stance (maybe, perhaps, I leave that for you to judge) in my online exchanges with people whose ideas are fixed and hard-fast. But just because I am less “vocal” that doesn’t mean that I have stopped reading and learning more about the body, food, nutrition, and balanced healthy living. So when I saw a link on a blog for a new book - a research review - on why fats are necessary, I had to get a copy. I mean, since my nutritionist Vicki Edgson introduced me to good fats and bad fats, and I learned what Omega 3s were, I have tried to eat a balanced diet with plenty of good fats. So why not learn more?
Written by a research anthropologist and a research medical doctor, Why Women Need Fat is a tour of research combined with practical suggestions on how to eat to obtain the body’s natural weight. Through research we see how the typical American (western) diet has changed over time - and the impact that consuming more processed food has had on our overall body composition and weight. The authors explore the reasons for the changes in perceptions of what constitutes healthy eating, exploring for example the unproven correlations between a low fat diet and heart healthy diet. Finally, by undertaking this comprehensive review of research as well as adding in their own analysis and studies, they aim to educate the reader. The book attempts to help the reader to understand the basis of why our body composition is what it is, and from there to help us to make better choices about food and eating, which in turn will lead to lead to a more natural and stable body weight and composition.
In searching for the original blog post I read, to link back to it, I came across a lot of other reviews for this book. Some were critical of the focus on women. Some were critical of how when the authors state that diets don’t work they embrace eating rules. Some simply quoted the relevant points they wanted to focus on taking away from the book, inviting their readers to comment.
I have struggled with how best to organise my review. I found the book interesting, scientifically based but easy to read, and with a few good takeaway points that I am more mindful of when I choose foods to eat / prepare at home. On my website I have included a full summary of the book - of the main sections with some quotes of facts I found interesting, as well as the lists and steps that I found in the book. I have also peppered the post with some reflections, particularly at the end with regard to the author’s section on establishing natural weight.
I will say that if you are interested in science and research and would like a reference book for how to eat good fats (omega-3s) then this is a great book. It is written in an accesible manner, and I read it on one long flight (so it is quick reading too). I find myself returning to it often for information or checking things. Unlike some other reviews I read, I was not bothered by the focus on women (versus men or people in general) - rather I found it interesting and a great biological explanation of the body in terms that a non-scientist like me could understand.
The crux of the book is that the authors advocate a return to eating whole foods - to buying non-industrial ingredients and making meals plentiful in omega-3 fats. They advocate that through this approach that we can return to our natural weight, our “set point”.
If you are eating the right foods and getting a reasonable amount of exercise, your weight should find its natural level.
Through research, lists and tips the authors help the reader to understand what the “right foods” are. But I can see how a trained nutritionist or dietitician would be beneficial in helping people with this - let's face it, it's a lot of information.
The book is peppered with examples of good and bad fats - high omega-3 foods, and omega-6 foods to stay away from. Although some people may say it is a bit repetitive, I *liked* the constant reminders. I am not a trained nutritionist, so I am not familiar with the ins and outs of food composition. So for me, reading the information more than once helped me to learn and embed ideas.
The authors also share some common sense tips to losing weight and getting back to our body’s natural weight as well as three methods of establishing natural weight (table, family history, and measurements).
Now I am not personally seeking to achieve weight loss, but I do find the tips full of common sense. I suspect implementing these small changes could be hard. One of the suggestions to do the small changes is to just cut out coffee in sugar to generate a 50 calorie a day deficit, which over a year could lead to 5 pounds of weight loss. But, how do you know if only cutting out sugar in coffee is going to achieve this result? Everything else you ate would have to be perfect, and even then the result will not be instant, it may be frustrating, it may not appear. I suspect to do this type of natural eating change a lot of people would first need to learn *how* to eat - learn about appropriate portion sizes, learn about how to menu plan, learn to cook… But for someone like me, who cooks a lot and who is diligent about the choices I make around food, this type of “intuitive” plan could work. And intuitively eating like these has meant that my weight has stayed pretty constant over the past few years.
I have to admit, I like this “natural common sense” approach a lot better than the regimented extremes that I read about. It just seems to me that success is easier if we don’t view our goals as hard to attain but achievable through diligence and balance. That just makes sense to me.
My key takeaway? Clearly, education on what to eat helps to inform healthier eating. So too does knowing how to cook. With a clean diet full of wholesome, natural, organic foods - foods that we cook and prepare ourselves rather than buying ready-made - we set ourselves up for maximum health. And by eating this way we don’t have to avoid treats and indulgences. We just need to be aware and understand the choices that we make in the context of our overall health.
Intuitive. Deceptively simple. But a method that seems natural, and that I am striving toward in my everyday eating.
September 1, 2014
Review to come. In sum, really wasn't impressed with the claims this book made on dimensions of health and diet. For a book claiming there weren't a lot of scientific evidence to back certain claims, it really didn't do a good job supporting its respective arguments. Plus, there were just some claims that I, being passionate about health/fitness/wellness, just couldn't get behind at all.
August 29, 2013
I have mixed feelings on this book. I really enjoyed the first part of the book "Why and How We Got Fatter". Any book that helps refute Ancel Key's unsupported and misguided theories on fat and the role it plays on our health gets a thumbs up from me. However, I feel like Gary Taube's books (Good Calories, Bad Calories and Why We Get Fat) are a much more informative and well-documented source of this same subject matter.
The second part of the book is a mix of anthropology and science. It looks at weight gain and it's distribution on women and how and why these factors change over time. It also gets into the scientific reasons why dieting doesn't usually work and how your brain translates the signals it is receiving when we all of a sudden cut down on the amount of food we are eating and up the amount of energy we are expending. I found some of the information redundant in this part, but it was still pretty interesting.
The third part focuses on the application of the ideas in the book. It boils down to the rebalancing of omega's (3=get more, 6=get less), which is mainly accomplished by avoiding vegetable oils. The oils that are on the ok list include olive, flaxseed, walnut, and, at the top of the list, the controversial canola. Personally, I try to limit the amount of canola oil in my diet, due to the fact is tends to be highly processed and most of the rape seed plants used in it's production are genetically modified. The authors do recommend checking the omega 3 content, which is another way of saying to buy the cold-pressed (less processed) brands, since high heat (expeller pressed) would effect the omega 3 levels. If high omega 3's and low omega 6's are the only thing you are looking for in an oil, then canola fits the bill, but I'm going to stick with olive, coconut, ghee, and lard for my cooking needs. The other rebalancing technique is to incorporate more omega 3 rich foods into your diet (pasture raised meats & dairy, fish or fish oil, etc) and to cut out processed foods. There are also a lot of charts at the end of part three to help you determine your "natural weight". I did not use these, so not sure how effective they are.
The second part of the book is a mix of anthropology and science. It looks at weight gain and it's distribution on women and how and why these factors change over time. It also gets into the scientific reasons why dieting doesn't usually work and how your brain translates the signals it is receiving when we all of a sudden cut down on the amount of food we are eating and up the amount of energy we are expending. I found some of the information redundant in this part, but it was still pretty interesting.
The third part focuses on the application of the ideas in the book. It boils down to the rebalancing of omega's (3=get more, 6=get less), which is mainly accomplished by avoiding vegetable oils. The oils that are on the ok list include olive, flaxseed, walnut, and, at the top of the list, the controversial canola. Personally, I try to limit the amount of canola oil in my diet, due to the fact is tends to be highly processed and most of the rape seed plants used in it's production are genetically modified. The authors do recommend checking the omega 3 content, which is another way of saying to buy the cold-pressed (less processed) brands, since high heat (expeller pressed) would effect the omega 3 levels. If high omega 3's and low omega 6's are the only thing you are looking for in an oil, then canola fits the bill, but I'm going to stick with olive, coconut, ghee, and lard for my cooking needs. The other rebalancing technique is to incorporate more omega 3 rich foods into your diet (pasture raised meats & dairy, fish or fish oil, etc) and to cut out processed foods. There are also a lot of charts at the end of part three to help you determine your "natural weight". I did not use these, so not sure how effective they are.
January 2, 2012
I thought this book was much more interesting than the run-of-the-mill health/nutrition book in its coverage of evolutionary adaptations the human female has made over time to deal with childbirth and how these adaptations relate to women's health and weight. Some of the information was familiar from a nutrition standpoint, but a good chunk of the information was totally new to me. I had a vague concept that our omega-6 to omega-3 ratios where out of whack, but no idea why and just what it could mean for health and weight. I also liked how the book addressed a lot of the misinformation we get about fat and its relationship to heart disease.
I was interested to see that the previous reviewer didn't like the authors promoting the idea that the food industry is, in large part, to blame for Americans being overweight. I believe they were pretty on target with the concept. Even though I generally make the choice to stay away from processed and fast foods, I see how easy it can be to fall into a cycle of relying on processed food, gaining weight, dieting and gaining it back, and I don't think it's because most Americans are lazy. I do believe many people are misinformed or don't realize just how bad some of the junk out there can be.
I was interested to see that the previous reviewer didn't like the authors promoting the idea that the food industry is, in large part, to blame for Americans being overweight. I believe they were pretty on target with the concept. Even though I generally make the choice to stay away from processed and fast foods, I see how easy it can be to fall into a cycle of relying on processed food, gaining weight, dieting and gaining it back, and I don't think it's because most Americans are lazy. I do believe many people are misinformed or don't realize just how bad some of the junk out there can be.
February 4, 2012
I have to say that this book was incredibly eye-opening to me.
One of those books that really rang true...I can trace all of the patterns outlined in the book to my own life events. From living in Europe and losing weight effortlessly (even though I was already fairly thin), to moving back to the US and being sick to my stomach every time I put a wheat thin or other "healthy" processed food in my mouth, to the way I gained and lost weight after childbirth.
I am now around 45 pounds over my "natural" weight as I figured it from the book. The interesting thing, is that I could have told you my natural weight before reading the book. I am shocked and a little depressed at the way the food industry in this country has driven the obesity epidemic through so-called "healthy" foods. I am determined to change the way I eat for good, and not do it via dieting.
As depressing as it was in some ways, it has given me a lot of hope in other ways.
One of those books that really rang true...I can trace all of the patterns outlined in the book to my own life events. From living in Europe and losing weight effortlessly (even though I was already fairly thin), to moving back to the US and being sick to my stomach every time I put a wheat thin or other "healthy" processed food in my mouth, to the way I gained and lost weight after childbirth.
I am now around 45 pounds over my "natural" weight as I figured it from the book. The interesting thing, is that I could have told you my natural weight before reading the book. I am shocked and a little depressed at the way the food industry in this country has driven the obesity epidemic through so-called "healthy" foods. I am determined to change the way I eat for good, and not do it via dieting.
As depressing as it was in some ways, it has given me a lot of hope in other ways.
September 14, 2014
Interesting take on why women have been gaining weight in modern times. Only thing is that after taking half the book to explain the reason we need to go back to eating more omega-3 fats, and less omega-6 fats, the author says it's very, very difficult given the way food is made/processed today to do so. Um, WHAT? Only suggestions are to eat free-range, grass-fed beef and chicken, try to incorporate more fish, even fish oil capsules if necessary, and then, well, that's it.
OH, except for some age-old tried and true advice - only eat when you're hungry, and then only until you are full, use smaller plates/bowls for smaller portions, get some exercise, don't drink a lot of sugary sodas, etc.
I skimmed a lot of the book. Very repetitive, and ultimately disappointing.
OH, except for some age-old tried and true advice - only eat when you're hungry, and then only until you are full, use smaller plates/bowls for smaller portions, get some exercise, don't drink a lot of sugary sodas, etc.
I skimmed a lot of the book. Very repetitive, and ultimately disappointing.
July 13, 2012
Super interesting read if you are interested in nutrition. It is chock full of good information about why we shouldn't fear fat and why the current imbalance of omega6 / omega3 fats is causing untold health problems - not just the current obesity epidemic. Also a good examination of how, since the advent of corporate farming and processed foods, our average weights have been increasing.
October 16, 2023
Book was ok. Emphasized omega 3 vs omega 6. Said men were wired to look for skinny waists/bigger hips for reproduction purposes which I found depressing
June 17, 2012
Non-Fiction; Nutrition/Diet
1 star
I really need to stop requesting these type of books from Netgalley since they only seem to further my level of frustration toward a genre designed to ‘help’ people in their weight loss goals.
The overall message? You are not at fault because you are overweight.
Really?
Okay, so I agree with Dr. Lassek that body types are body types. If everyone in your family line carries their weight like a spare tire around the middle, chances are pretty good that you are resigned to the same fate. Exercise and diet cannot change that. Yes, you can lose weight and run a marathon— but if you were to let go and say, gain twenty pounds; guess where it is going to live? Yep, your spare tire. That I understand.
(here is where the good Dr and I part ways)
But to say that it is the food industry’s fault is just ridiculous. Most packages have nutrition labels, and most people can read.
Every person makes a choice.
Put it in your mouth or don’t. Sit on your ass, or get up and move.
There is enough ‘basic’ information in this country to let everyone know that eating an entire bag of potato chips or a whole pie in one sitting is not the best idea. STOP BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE. Take responsibility for what you put in your mouth! If you don’t know why you choose what you eat when you do; there is more serious underlying issue that needs to be resolved. Seek help from a trusted friend or professional.
Do manufacturers use ingredients that are known to be addictive? Maybe. But does that mean that every person will automatically become an addict with the first bite? No.
More people are turning to processed foods because they are typically faster to prepare. We are a society on the go in an attempt to keep up with everyone else. We seldom take the time to teach our young to cook, so begins the cycle of pre-made foods. We’ve literally ‘tipped the scales’ by choosing ready-made-foods over fresh ingredients. Added to that is the fact that portion control seems virtually non-existent.
Again, it’s a choice here people.
My final thoughts: You shove it down your gullet, you pay the consequences. To truly become the person you want to be, stop letting people tell you that someone else is to blame for your choices.
1 star
I really need to stop requesting these type of books from Netgalley since they only seem to further my level of frustration toward a genre designed to ‘help’ people in their weight loss goals.
The overall message? You are not at fault because you are overweight.
Really?
Okay, so I agree with Dr. Lassek that body types are body types. If everyone in your family line carries their weight like a spare tire around the middle, chances are pretty good that you are resigned to the same fate. Exercise and diet cannot change that. Yes, you can lose weight and run a marathon— but if you were to let go and say, gain twenty pounds; guess where it is going to live? Yep, your spare tire. That I understand.
(here is where the good Dr and I part ways)
But to say that it is the food industry’s fault is just ridiculous. Most packages have nutrition labels, and most people can read.
Every person makes a choice.
Put it in your mouth or don’t. Sit on your ass, or get up and move.
There is enough ‘basic’ information in this country to let everyone know that eating an entire bag of potato chips or a whole pie in one sitting is not the best idea. STOP BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE. Take responsibility for what you put in your mouth! If you don’t know why you choose what you eat when you do; there is more serious underlying issue that needs to be resolved. Seek help from a trusted friend or professional.
Do manufacturers use ingredients that are known to be addictive? Maybe. But does that mean that every person will automatically become an addict with the first bite? No.
More people are turning to processed foods because they are typically faster to prepare. We are a society on the go in an attempt to keep up with everyone else. We seldom take the time to teach our young to cook, so begins the cycle of pre-made foods. We’ve literally ‘tipped the scales’ by choosing ready-made-foods over fresh ingredients. Added to that is the fact that portion control seems virtually non-existent.
Again, it’s a choice here people.
My final thoughts: You shove it down your gullet, you pay the consequences. To truly become the person you want to be, stop letting people tell you that someone else is to blame for your choices.
May 9, 2012
Catchy title huh?
A few months ago, I received a preview copy of Why Women Need Fat: How "Healthy" Food Makes Us Gain Excess Weight and the Surprising Solution to Losing It Forever. Last week I finally finished it. The title and description caught my attention, since I'm firmly convinced that the insane amount of vegetable oil in the standard American diet (and dearth of healthy saturated fats) is one of the main causes of myriad health issues, not the least of which is obesity. The book was fascinating, but I have mixed feelings.
Why Women Need Fat is divided into three parts. The first part "Why and How We Got Fatter" documents how health has declined and heart disease and obesity have increased since we reduced saturated fat and increased vegetable oils in our diet. The explanation of how the low-fat and cholesterol myths came to be were great, and the statistics and information were super thorough. I enjoyed the contrast of American women with European women and also American women now versus several decades ago.
Why is it that European women who consume so much more fat than us are slimmer and healthier than us? Why do heart disease and obesity rates continue to skyrocket despite reduced saturated fat intake? There's a pretty convincing explanation offered, and a great discussion of the hugely out of proportion omega 6 to omega 3 ratio in the modern American diet. I think the book is probably worth reading for this section alone.
To read my entire review, click here: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/2...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
A few months ago, I received a preview copy of Why Women Need Fat: How "Healthy" Food Makes Us Gain Excess Weight and the Surprising Solution to Losing It Forever. Last week I finally finished it. The title and description caught my attention, since I'm firmly convinced that the insane amount of vegetable oil in the standard American diet (and dearth of healthy saturated fats) is one of the main causes of myriad health issues, not the least of which is obesity. The book was fascinating, but I have mixed feelings.
Why Women Need Fat is divided into three parts. The first part "Why and How We Got Fatter" documents how health has declined and heart disease and obesity have increased since we reduced saturated fat and increased vegetable oils in our diet. The explanation of how the low-fat and cholesterol myths came to be were great, and the statistics and information were super thorough. I enjoyed the contrast of American women with European women and also American women now versus several decades ago.
Why is it that European women who consume so much more fat than us are slimmer and healthier than us? Why do heart disease and obesity rates continue to skyrocket despite reduced saturated fat intake? There's a pretty convincing explanation offered, and a great discussion of the hugely out of proportion omega 6 to omega 3 ratio in the modern American diet. I think the book is probably worth reading for this section alone.
To read my entire review, click here: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/2...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
November 14, 2012
I'm not much for educational reading, but when this book came down the pipeline, the title intrigued me. I second guessed signing up for the review b/c I thought it would be boring and tell me a bunch of stuff I already knew, and didn't want to hear again.
What they had to say blew my mind. This book unveils the truth about our food pyramid, why it was developed the way it was, and what's wrong with it. It's all just as I thought: One big conspiracy. The richer getting richer, and the fat getting fatter. Though the writer's tout evolutionary beliefs (which I don't support), the science behind their claims seems solid. They go into detail about why women have bigger thighs and behinds, and why after having a baby, it's so hard to lose weight and keep it off. They also go into detail about what is actually in the store-bought foods we are consuming, and how harmful it is to our bodies, and our waist-lines.
We've all heard the craze about eating organic, but aside from pesticides on our veggies, I've never really understood why we needed to move in that direction. This book has completely enlightened me, and our family is taking steps to move into a more natural, clean way of eating. I am excited, though nervous because we have to do this on a tight budget, but I think it can be done, and I'm so thankful for this book, and the light it has shone on lies we've believed about healthy eating our entire life.
What they had to say blew my mind. This book unveils the truth about our food pyramid, why it was developed the way it was, and what's wrong with it. It's all just as I thought: One big conspiracy. The richer getting richer, and the fat getting fatter. Though the writer's tout evolutionary beliefs (which I don't support), the science behind their claims seems solid. They go into detail about why women have bigger thighs and behinds, and why after having a baby, it's so hard to lose weight and keep it off. They also go into detail about what is actually in the store-bought foods we are consuming, and how harmful it is to our bodies, and our waist-lines.
We've all heard the craze about eating organic, but aside from pesticides on our veggies, I've never really understood why we needed to move in that direction. This book has completely enlightened me, and our family is taking steps to move into a more natural, clean way of eating. I am excited, though nervous because we have to do this on a tight budget, but I think it can be done, and I'm so thankful for this book, and the light it has shone on lies we've believed about healthy eating our entire life.
March 16, 2012
I had a hard time rating this book, because parts of it I found really interesting, but parts of it really drove me bonkers because of its lack of consistency and scientific backing. It really drove me nuts that there was SO SO much anecdotal evidence, with few supporting or well-researched studeies backing it. The inconsistency in it drove me nuts - Lassek vacillated between claiming that certain foods lacked scientific rigor in being recommended (or not), and between wholeheartedly recommending (or not) them. While I fully support and mostly eat a natural, whole foods diet, there was very little research showing the health effects of eating such a diet. Much of the book focused on omega-3s, and extrapolated a lot from that research. And then the thing that almost had me give the book just 1 star - Lassek made a point of noting that no studies have really proven that being overweight is a bad thing, but spends the rest of the book detailing how people should lose weight. Completely contradictory and annoying.
That said, I did glean some interesting things from the book, such as the importance of omega-3s. The info about different builds and body types was interesting, as well.
That said, I did glean some interesting things from the book, such as the importance of omega-3s. The info about different builds and body types was interesting, as well.
January 2, 2012
I am not big on diet books or even the concept of dieting but this book was a surprise. It is filled with practical ways to get your body to its natural weight. There are no quick fixes here but commonsense ways to change the way you eat.
For example:
1. Eating mostly whole foods.
2. Eating organic, grass fed meat.
3. Increasing Omega-3 and decreasing Omega-6.
The last part of the book even lists foods to avoid and ones to eat more regularly.
If you are looking to make a lifestyle change to eat more like a European or the way American women ate fifty years ago, this book is for you.
For example:
1. Eating mostly whole foods.
2. Eating organic, grass fed meat.
3. Increasing Omega-3 and decreasing Omega-6.
The last part of the book even lists foods to avoid and ones to eat more regularly.
If you are looking to make a lifestyle change to eat more like a European or the way American women ate fifty years ago, this book is for you.
April 6, 2012
This book describes the results of a fascinating study of fat-and-women researched by a medical doctor and an anthropologist, who originally set out to discover why men (including themselves) prefer/find attractive the traditional "hour glass" figure of women. Along the way their comprehensive study lead them to discover not only why women need fat, but also why we are fat and what makes us fat. (As it turns out, those are NOT the same thing.) The authors are also able to dispel many myths about fat that have plagued women for a very long time.
February 2, 2012
I read this book as part of the BlogHer book club and it was a fascinating read. I don't agree with the reviewer above who said the book's message is that fat is genetic and you can't help it. There's a lot of discussion about how your body shape has a large genetic factor but it never says you can't control your weight so don't bother to try.
Read my full review: http://carlybananas.com/2012/01/12/wh...
Read my full review: http://carlybananas.com/2012/01/12/wh...
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March 24, 2012hmmm. I would say I read slash skimmed this one, as I intended to read it but found it lacking in a lot of "new' information to me. I tried to get real meaning out of the discussions of omega 6 vs omega 3 and in the end- I still am only going to eat as much fat as I feel like, even if its the new "superfood." I like the way that it starts with "case studies," and then moves onto research, historical studies, and trends.
December 31, 2011
I had high hopes for this book and was severely let down. I was not a fan of the message in the book, which essentially was that it's not your fault if you are overweight, it's the company's that make the food. There were a few good insights in the book, however for the most part it was not new information and was a little off for me.
September 21, 2012
Kind of odd. They set out to study why men prefer women with small waists... and end up with the conclusion that we need to decrease the Omega 6 in our diets and up the Omega 3s and all will be right with the world. I agree with another reviewer who said that they stuck the diet part in so the book would not languish in the anthropology section
June 6, 2014
It's amazing to me that 2 men had the power-without any research or trials to back it up-to change the evolution of the American diet by saying fat-free is the way to go. It's what's made most American's obese and majorly contributed to heart disease. It is really hard for me to break the fat-free habit and go to full fat but I'm trying. PS-vegetable oil is the devil, and it must be destroyed.
February 10, 2012
Some of this was VERY interesting and I read large parts of it outloud to Bart. But I also thought that some of it really dragged and was repetitive. Full review here: http://everydayreading.blogspot.com/2...
August 13, 2012
As a biochemist, it's great to see a book out that supports our differences, and promotes moderation, with a common sense approach to nutrition and eating. "Eat when you are hungry" should be everyone's mantra. Your body knows how to take care of itself.
October 27, 2012
Not a very well-written book. Frequently redundant, seemingly to expand the topic to the point that it merits a whole book instead of a long article. However, the information is worthwhile. Skim it, but don't read it cover to cover unless you want to read the same thing 3 times.
January 22, 2012
Really agree with these views, dieting doesn't work!
August 7, 2012
Interesting read. Validated my beliefs and motivated me to eat healthier.
August 8, 2012
Revelational! I'm enjoying avocado, walnut, cold pressed extra virgin coconut and olive oils, salmon and tuna sashimi like never before.
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