Mismatch: The Lifestyle Diseases Timebomb

by Peter Gluckman, Mark Hanson

Our bodies evolved to allow our ancestors the best chance of survival as hunter-gatherers in the Savannah. Our brains, on the other hand, have allowed us to develop complex societies, cultures, and lifestyles, far removed from those of our ancestors. As a result, write Peter Gluckman and Mark
Hanson in Mismatch , we have created a modern, artificial world that is painfully out of tune with our evolved bodies.
In a compelling narrative that begins with the Sherpa in Nepal, Gluckman and Hanson, both leading medical scientists, draw on the latest research, bringing together concepts from evolutionary biology, developmental science, medicine, anthropology and ecology to describe the nature of this
mismatch, its consequences, and how we may counter it. The authors reveal that this mismatch has led to the current deadly explosion in "lifestyle" diseases such as diabetes and obesity, and it may well lead to increasingly frequent epidemics. There are broader consequences too for societies, such
as the falling age of puberty, with its attendant mismatch with psychological maturity, and at the other end of life, the implications of increasing longevity. Is there any way out? Yes, say the authors. They propose that intervention in early human development, alongside a better focus on the
health of potential mothers, can make future generations better suited to the modern world.
In this remarkable and lucidly written book, Gluckman and Hanson identify a profound and growing problem that we ignore at our peril.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Health, Evolution, Social Science

298 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2006

About the author

Sir Peter Gluckman is University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Science in Policy, Diplomacy and Society at the University of Auckland and Chief Scientific Officer for the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences. He is president of the International Network for Government Science Advice. He was the chief science advisor to the prime minister of New Zealand from 2009 to 2018.

Reviews

[Maher Razouk · Rating 4 out of 5]

نتيجة للتغيرات الرئيسية في بيئتنا ، هناك الآن عدد أكبر من الناس في جميع أنحاء العالم يعانون من آثار زيادة الوزن أو السمنة ، مقارنة بنقص التغذية ، على الرغم من الفقر المدقع في أفريقيا جنوب الصحراء وأجزاء من آسيا. في العقود القليلة الماضية ، كان هناك ارتفاع هائل في العديد من البلدان في حدوث ما يسمى بأمراض "نمط الحياة" وخاصة أمراض القلب والأوعية الدموية والسمنة ومرض السكري عند البالغين. حدثت هذه الزيادة جزئيًا بسبب إطالة أعمارنا ، لأن هذه تعتبر عمومًا أمراض منتصف العمر وكبار السن. لكننا الآن نشهد ارتفاعًا سريعًا في مستويات السمنة حتى عند الأطفال الذين تقل أعمارهم عن 3 سنوات ، في العقدين الثاني والثالث من الحياة.

تُعزى هذه التغييرات في جزء كبير منها إلى نوع جديد من نمط الحياة: تمارين أقل والمزيد من الطعام عالي الطاقة. زاد متوسط ​​وزن الأمريكيين الشماليين بمقدار 4.5 كجم خلال التسعينيات - وتشير التقديرات إلى أن هذا كلف شركات الطيران 1600 مليون لتر إضافي من وقود الطائرات لنقلهم خلال عام 2000. الإصرار على أن الراكب الكبير الحجم يجب أن يشتري مقعدين. طلب متاجر الملابس الآن مجموعة أحجام مختلفة جدًا من الملابس عما كانت عليه قبل عقد من الزمن. حتى معايير مقاعد المراحيض يتم تنقيحها للتعامل مع الأشخاص الأثقل وزنًا . في الدول الغربية ، يصنف الآن أكثر من 20 في المائة من البالغين على أنهم يعانون من السمنة المفرطة.

ارتفع معدل انتشار الأطفال الذين يعانون من زيادة الوزن من 8 في المائة إلى 20 في المائة في المملكة المتحدة بين عامي 1984 و 1998. وحتى في بلد يمر بمرحلة انتقالية بيئية مثل الهند ، يمكن تصنيف 10 في المائة من أطفال الطبقة المتوسطة في المناطق الحضرية على أنهم يعانون من السمنة، أو زيادة الوزن.
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Peter Gluckman, Mark Hanson
Mismatch
Translated by #Maher_Razouk

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't what I was hoping for. It reads like a collection of different case studies and the authors don't attempt to make a broad message until the last few pages. I really wanted them to bring it all together and I felt like they failed at that task. It's like a long research paper with plentiful evidence but no discussion or conclusion sections.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read and good look on how our genetics and environment work together to influence evolution. A bit disheartening at times, but definitely gives you something to think about.

[Muriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book review for other readers.

(Just a nostalgic note for myself.

Together with other books like Fetal Matrix, book like Mismatch formed an important foundation for my grad school research. I remember my surprise about the body of research when reading these books for the first time, the ideas have long since been internalized. I miss my affiliation with research libraries where these books are available. Public libraries are not getting these books. )

[Ushan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the Sherpas in the rarefied-air iodine-deprived foothills of the Himalayas, citizens of developed-world countries live in an environment that is poorly suited to human nature. Zoo animals often live much longer than wild animals; we live in the zoo of our own creation, so a great many more people live to be old than was the case during almost all of human history. The mismatch between biological puberty and social maturity has never been greater. This is all true, but something like 5 million people were alive during the Paleolithic, as opposed to today's 6 billion. Those wishing to return to the Paleolithic are welcome to toss a coin 10 times; if they toss fewer than 10 straight heads, they should fling themselves against the wall.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the field of Evolutionary Medicine from a non-technical perspective. For anyone with a good knowledge of human evolution, the middle of the book can be tiring as it overviews the fossil record - but the application of evolutionary principles of human biology and health are highly thought-provoking; should be required reading for medical doctors.

[Peym]

Developmental biology with a little speculative comment on evolution.
Nothing on mismatch, shallow content

Attacking sociobiology without any specific argument

[Jason Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and new science book that certainly taught me a lot about current biology.

[Arianna Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freakin science is awesome.