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The Obesity Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health
Is your weight hazardous to your health? According to public-health authorities, 65 percent of us are overweight. Every day, we are bombarded with dire warnings about America’'s “obesity epidemic.” Close to half of the adult population is dieting, obsessed with achieving an arbitrary “ideal weight.” Yet studies show that a moderately active larger person is likely to be far healthier (and to live longer) than someone who is thin but sedentary. And contrary to what the fifty-billion-dollar-per-year weight-loss industry would have us believe medical science has not yet come up with a way to make people thin.
After years spent scrutinizing medical studies and interviewing leading doctors, scientists, eating- disorder specialists, and psychiatrists, Professor Paul Campos is here to lead the backlash against weight hysteria— -- and to show that we can safeguard our health without obsessing about the numbers on the scale. But The Obesity Myth is not just a compelling argument, grounded in the latest scientific research; it’s also a provocative, wry expose of the culture that feeds on our self-defeating war on fat. Campos will show:
* How the nation’s most prestigious and trusted media sources consistently misinform the public about obesity
* What the movie industry’s love affair with the “fat suit” tells us about the relationship between racial- and body-based prejudice in America
* How the skinny elite—with their “supersized” lifestyles and gas-guzzling SUVs —project their anxieties about overconsumption on the poorer and heavier underclass
* How weight-loss mania fueled the impeachment of Bill Clinton
In this paradigm-busting read, Professor Campos challenges the conventional wisdom regarding the medical, political, and cultural meaning of weight and brings a rational and compelling new voice to America’s increasingly irrational weight debate.
After years spent scrutinizing medical studies and interviewing leading doctors, scientists, eating- disorder specialists, and psychiatrists, Professor Paul Campos is here to lead the backlash against weight hysteria— -- and to show that we can safeguard our health without obsessing about the numbers on the scale. But The Obesity Myth is not just a compelling argument, grounded in the latest scientific research; it’s also a provocative, wry expose of the culture that feeds on our self-defeating war on fat. Campos will show:
* How the nation’s most prestigious and trusted media sources consistently misinform the public about obesity
* What the movie industry’s love affair with the “fat suit” tells us about the relationship between racial- and body-based prejudice in America
* How the skinny elite—with their “supersized” lifestyles and gas-guzzling SUVs —project their anxieties about overconsumption on the poorer and heavier underclass
* How weight-loss mania fueled the impeachment of Bill Clinton
In this paradigm-busting read, Professor Campos challenges the conventional wisdom regarding the medical, political, and cultural meaning of weight and brings a rational and compelling new voice to America’s increasingly irrational weight debate.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2004
14 people are currently reading
1629 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 10, 2013
In summary:
1. One's weight, unless it is enormous, is not a serious *independent* health risk. Being fat does correlate with other real risks, like being sedentary and yo-yo dieting; but once those are factored out little or nothing remains. In fact people with a 25 to 30 Body Mass Index have *lower* mortality, ceteris paribus, than people in the supposedly ideal range of 18.5 to 25. In any case, BMI is absurdly rigid, and a terrible proxy for health.
2. No one knows how to make people lose weight and keep it off. Nearly every dieter eventually gains back the lost weight and the majority gain back more. The usual counsel of "more self-control" is a confession, on the part of the diet industry, of bankruptcy and failure.
3. Even if it were true that thin people were healthier, it would not follow that making fat people thin is a good idea. Dark people suffer less skin cancer. It does not follow that fair people ought to tan to prevent melanoma.
All of this is very well supported, and all of it is laid out in the first 60 pages. The remaining 200 pages of the book are repetitive, political, and speculative. But points 1 through 3 are important enough to justify the rest.
1. One's weight, unless it is enormous, is not a serious *independent* health risk. Being fat does correlate with other real risks, like being sedentary and yo-yo dieting; but once those are factored out little or nothing remains. In fact people with a 25 to 30 Body Mass Index have *lower* mortality, ceteris paribus, than people in the supposedly ideal range of 18.5 to 25. In any case, BMI is absurdly rigid, and a terrible proxy for health.
2. No one knows how to make people lose weight and keep it off. Nearly every dieter eventually gains back the lost weight and the majority gain back more. The usual counsel of "more self-control" is a confession, on the part of the diet industry, of bankruptcy and failure.
3. Even if it were true that thin people were healthier, it would not follow that making fat people thin is a good idea. Dark people suffer less skin cancer. It does not follow that fair people ought to tan to prevent melanoma.
All of this is very well supported, and all of it is laid out in the first 60 pages. The remaining 200 pages of the book are repetitive, political, and speculative. But points 1 through 3 are important enough to justify the rest.
August 19, 2007
This book is wonderful simply because it offers a sane perspective on fat and health in the United States. The author basically dispels most of the myths around fat, arguing that fat is rarely if ever a determinate of health. Instead, he suggests that health is determined by exercise and healthy eating, no matter what someone's size. This may seem a simple enough theory, but in our current hysterical media it is positively revolutionary.
At times his writing style is a bit over the top. Also, he has a great chapter on race and fat politics, but then doesn't go far enough in his analysis.
But you will learn a lot. And I can promise you that you will have many ugly arguments with people after reading this book, as few people will understand you when you tell them that fat is NOT the root of all evil. And isn't getting in fights with your friends the real sign of a good book?
At times his writing style is a bit over the top. Also, he has a great chapter on race and fat politics, but then doesn't go far enough in his analysis.
But you will learn a lot. And I can promise you that you will have many ugly arguments with people after reading this book, as few people will understand you when you tell them that fat is NOT the root of all evil. And isn't getting in fights with your friends the real sign of a good book?
January 11, 2008
Great book. Illuminates how doctors and others in America have made obesity the problem rather than a symptom of other problems. This one is worth a read no matter what your weight.
August 31, 2007
in my continuous process to become a better fat ally/more fat positive person and to indulge my public health side, i decided to read this book. skip the chapter on monica lewinsky, but aside from that this book is incredible. it really takes the time to examine population-based studies that demonstrate that fat doesn't equal unhealthy.
May 15, 2019
Paul Campos is a lawyer and a writer who by his own admission(at least until recently) has had a ongoing struggle with his weight and maintaining a positive body image. In The Obesity Myth Campos tries to convince his readers that the "obesity epidemic" is a farce, part conspiracy theory and part ingenious marketing campaign championed by companies and special interest groups that have nothing to lose and everything to gain from our obsession with weight loss.
With the eloquence of a skilled orator and talented writer, Campos puts forth an argument that seems at first to be indisputable if not immediately obvious. The war on obesity is unfair, unfounded, and ultimately making us fatter.
His case goes something like this:
1. Despite popular belief, the health risks associated with carrying excess weight are actually quite low. According to Campos weight is not an independent risk factor with respect to morbidity or mortality.
2. There is no good long-term evidence that shows that weight loss even if sustained is beneficial to health. However, there is evidence to suggest that the all-too-common cycle of weight loss and weight gain is harmful.
3. Finally, despite decades worth of dieting mantras, diet manuals, and fitness gurus selling us the latest weight-loss package, the research shows that even when dieters lose weight, they can't seem to keep it off.
Campos makes some good points, though at times he goes too far by reaching conclusions that aren't supported by the evidence he provides.
Characterization that except in extreme cases excess weight is not unhealthy
Campos repeatedly claims that weight is not an independent risk factor for morbidity or mortality. To support his assertion, he cites several studies that supposedly found that when other risk factors like smoking or sex were taken into account, being overweight and even obese (with the exception of morbid obesity) did not lead to a decrease in life expectancy. What he doesn't seem to get is that most health experts understand that a cause-and-effect relationship has not been established for overweight and obesity, though it does correlate to an increased incidence of disease. That simply means that while we can't prove that being overweight causes a disease like diabetes, we do know that being obese correlates to an increased incidence of diabetes. Most health experts concede that it may not be the extra weight itself that leads to the increased incidence of disease. Rather the behaviors that lead to weight gain may also lead to a particular disease. Campos seems to be missing the point, or rather misrepresenting it. The studies he cites to make his case relate to mortality and say nothing about morbidity. It's as if he believes there are only two basic states of health, being alive (good health) or being dead (bad health), and because excess weight is not linked to death it isn't harmful to our health. But that's ridiculous. Trust me. I am a clinician. There is a whole spectrum of health that exists between life and death.
Another major theme in Campos' case revolves around BMI or body mass index. Health professionals often use BMI to establish ideal ranges of weight for various heights. He quickly and repeatedly points out that BMI is not always a good indicator of body composition. After all, just about every professional football player is obese based on BMI alone. This is because a very athletic or muscular man and/or woman can have a large amount of muscle mass which distorts their BMI. He seems to think this is news to the medical profession. It's not. Clinicians know the limitations of BMI and only the most clueless doctor would tell an athlete like Marshall Faulk (at his prime) that he's obese. It doesn't work like that. BMI is simply a quick and dirty way to get a feel for body composition. Those who use it are well aware of its flaws and limitations. They understand it needs to be viewed in context.
He rests this particular case by claiming that exercise not weight loss is the key to improved health (longevity) and cites studies that have shown that a "mildly overweight" active person tends to live longer than a sedentary "thin" person. There is certainly lots of research to suggest that being active at any weight does indeed have health benefits. Campos however conveniently neglects to address how weight impacts an individual's activity level. I work with many large patients whose mobility and/or joints are impacted by their weight and size.
His assertion that yo-yo dieting is actually worse than being fat so why bother
Perhaps of the all the points he makes, this is the most convincing. The cycle of yo-yo dieting is unhealthy, both physically and mentally. This particular point also ties into his last point which is that despite health experts telling us to lose weight, no one seems to have figured out quite how to take the weight off and keep it off for good. And again, in one sense, he's right. There is decades of research that suggests dieting (dieting as we know it) doesn't work. People lose weight, but then gain it back. They then must lose it again, and thus the cycle starts. But I would argue that yo-yo dieting isn't inevitable, that there are dietary approaches that can and do work. It's just most people don't want to take the slow and steady road. For whatever reason, usually quick weight loss, people are attracted to less than ideal weight-loss methods.
I often tell clients that if they want to lose ten pounds in 3 months, I can't help them. However, if they want to adopt healthier habits that over time will help their bodies find a healthy weight (whatever that weight may be), then I am their "man."
But to simply say that because the diets that most people get sucked into don't work, doesn't mean that people can't lose weight and keep it off. It just means the approach that we're using is wrong. That's part of what I do when I coach clients. I try to help them abandon the "diet/weight-loss" mentality and instead focus on healthy behaviors period. If they lose weight, great. If not, great, because chances are if they are eating healthy and exercising and not losing any weight then they wouldn't be able to keep any additional weight off anyway.
Throughout the narrative Campos also discusses body image and the culturally induced unrealistic ideals that lead to self-loathing and feelings of inadequacy. I think most of us (women at least) have felt less than desirable (aka fat) standing in line at the grocery store and perusing through Sport's Illustrated Swim Suit Issue. And he's right. Every culture has standards of beauty that are unfair and unrealistic. Furthermore, thanks to living in a time and age when those of us with the funds and inclination can do so much to change our outer appearance, the pressure to conform to some crazy and, in many cases, unattainable standard has never been stronger. I get it. But that's not a valid argument against the health implications of overweight and obesity.
He does make some interesting observations about fat and obesity and our attitudes about fat and obesity. He claims we see being overweight as a moral failing and a weakness of character. We think of fat people as lazy, disgusting, and slothful. Even worse, the experts are now claiming they have a disease. We assume people are fat by choice or at least by lack of effort on their part. And I agree. Fatism is arguably the last acceptable "ism," but I don't think it's fair to equate fatism with sexism or racism or to assume that the public health message that encourages people to maintain a "healthy weight" is somehow just fatism in disguise.
I also agree with his assertion that our "war" against fat is actually making us fatter. Though, I don't believe there is some underlying conspiracy because the health and wellness industry has too much to gain from our attempts to lose weight.
Finally, Campos talks a lot about eating disorders. And while I don't agree with his use of anorexia to describe our mentality about food, I do believe that many people have a unhealthy relationship with food. I see it all the time when working with clients. So many people have so many confused ideas about food. And while misinformation and conflicting advice is partly to blame, it goes deeper than that. Some people use food much the same way that an addict might use heroin or an alcoholic might use alcohol. And it's kind of sad. Campos blames our "thin" culture. I blame the abnormal food environment in which we currently live. It's probably both and more.
At the very end of the book, Campos admits that despite his confident and self-assured narrative, he is actually just like everyone else. Ironically, in the course of writing the book, he lost 50 pounds by eating healthier and exercising more. Of course, he didn't diet (just made better food choices and denied himself on occasion.) Yeah, he dieted. He understands this makes him a hypocrite of sorts, but then why should he be any better than the rest of us.
All in all, this is an interesting read. Campos makes several worthwhile points that forced me stop and question my own beliefs about "fat." Obesity myth? Not quite, though I understand what he's getting at. We do live in a society obsessed with weight. Our obsession with weight does not seem to be making us thinner. To the contrary, we appear to be getting fatter thanks to an almost universal and unhealthy relationship with food that is worsening thanks to the never ending stream of quick-fix dieting trends. There is a correlation between excess weight and several diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, but it is impossible to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Weight is also not always an accurate reflection of body composition and/or health. It is also not clear if losing weight alone is enough to improve health, particularly if people can't keep the weight off for any significant period of time. Finally, there is ample evidence to suggest that making healthier food choices and getting regular exercise will have a positive impact on our health independent of weight and thus a more positive public health message might center more around promoting healthy behaviors and less around stigmatizing weight and fat. We also need a more accurate method of quantifying health that isn't centered around things like BMI. With BMI, you essentially get what you pay for. It's quick, easy, and cheap. Unfortunately, it doesn't really say anything about health other than maybe establishing those at the most extreme ranges of underweight and overweight (both with their own health implications.)
I'll add that when I work with clients, it is often a struggle to get them to abandon their scales. For whatever reason, many are fixated on those three little numbers. I spend a lot of time focusing on getting clients to accept and love their bodies "as is" and to show that love by taking care of it through a balanced diet and daily exercise. I also spend a lot of time helping people to learn to love, savor, and enjoy food, real food, not the crap that comes in a box or depends on processed oils, sugar and salt to make it taste "good." When they ask me about weight loss I tell them that if they eat healthy and exercise their bodies will generally gravitate toward a healthy weight even if that weight is not their "ideal."
With the eloquence of a skilled orator and talented writer, Campos puts forth an argument that seems at first to be indisputable if not immediately obvious. The war on obesity is unfair, unfounded, and ultimately making us fatter.
His case goes something like this:
1. Despite popular belief, the health risks associated with carrying excess weight are actually quite low. According to Campos weight is not an independent risk factor with respect to morbidity or mortality.
2. There is no good long-term evidence that shows that weight loss even if sustained is beneficial to health. However, there is evidence to suggest that the all-too-common cycle of weight loss and weight gain is harmful.
3. Finally, despite decades worth of dieting mantras, diet manuals, and fitness gurus selling us the latest weight-loss package, the research shows that even when dieters lose weight, they can't seem to keep it off.
Campos makes some good points, though at times he goes too far by reaching conclusions that aren't supported by the evidence he provides.
Characterization that except in extreme cases excess weight is not unhealthy
Campos repeatedly claims that weight is not an independent risk factor for morbidity or mortality. To support his assertion, he cites several studies that supposedly found that when other risk factors like smoking or sex were taken into account, being overweight and even obese (with the exception of morbid obesity) did not lead to a decrease in life expectancy. What he doesn't seem to get is that most health experts understand that a cause-and-effect relationship has not been established for overweight and obesity, though it does correlate to an increased incidence of disease. That simply means that while we can't prove that being overweight causes a disease like diabetes, we do know that being obese correlates to an increased incidence of diabetes. Most health experts concede that it may not be the extra weight itself that leads to the increased incidence of disease. Rather the behaviors that lead to weight gain may also lead to a particular disease. Campos seems to be missing the point, or rather misrepresenting it. The studies he cites to make his case relate to mortality and say nothing about morbidity. It's as if he believes there are only two basic states of health, being alive (good health) or being dead (bad health), and because excess weight is not linked to death it isn't harmful to our health. But that's ridiculous. Trust me. I am a clinician. There is a whole spectrum of health that exists between life and death.
Another major theme in Campos' case revolves around BMI or body mass index. Health professionals often use BMI to establish ideal ranges of weight for various heights. He quickly and repeatedly points out that BMI is not always a good indicator of body composition. After all, just about every professional football player is obese based on BMI alone. This is because a very athletic or muscular man and/or woman can have a large amount of muscle mass which distorts their BMI. He seems to think this is news to the medical profession. It's not. Clinicians know the limitations of BMI and only the most clueless doctor would tell an athlete like Marshall Faulk (at his prime) that he's obese. It doesn't work like that. BMI is simply a quick and dirty way to get a feel for body composition. Those who use it are well aware of its flaws and limitations. They understand it needs to be viewed in context.
He rests this particular case by claiming that exercise not weight loss is the key to improved health (longevity) and cites studies that have shown that a "mildly overweight" active person tends to live longer than a sedentary "thin" person. There is certainly lots of research to suggest that being active at any weight does indeed have health benefits. Campos however conveniently neglects to address how weight impacts an individual's activity level. I work with many large patients whose mobility and/or joints are impacted by their weight and size.
His assertion that yo-yo dieting is actually worse than being fat so why bother
Perhaps of the all the points he makes, this is the most convincing. The cycle of yo-yo dieting is unhealthy, both physically and mentally. This particular point also ties into his last point which is that despite health experts telling us to lose weight, no one seems to have figured out quite how to take the weight off and keep it off for good. And again, in one sense, he's right. There is decades of research that suggests dieting (dieting as we know it) doesn't work. People lose weight, but then gain it back. They then must lose it again, and thus the cycle starts. But I would argue that yo-yo dieting isn't inevitable, that there are dietary approaches that can and do work. It's just most people don't want to take the slow and steady road. For whatever reason, usually quick weight loss, people are attracted to less than ideal weight-loss methods.
I often tell clients that if they want to lose ten pounds in 3 months, I can't help them. However, if they want to adopt healthier habits that over time will help their bodies find a healthy weight (whatever that weight may be), then I am their "man."
But to simply say that because the diets that most people get sucked into don't work, doesn't mean that people can't lose weight and keep it off. It just means the approach that we're using is wrong. That's part of what I do when I coach clients. I try to help them abandon the "diet/weight-loss" mentality and instead focus on healthy behaviors period. If they lose weight, great. If not, great, because chances are if they are eating healthy and exercising and not losing any weight then they wouldn't be able to keep any additional weight off anyway.
Throughout the narrative Campos also discusses body image and the culturally induced unrealistic ideals that lead to self-loathing and feelings of inadequacy. I think most of us (women at least) have felt less than desirable (aka fat) standing in line at the grocery store and perusing through Sport's Illustrated Swim Suit Issue. And he's right. Every culture has standards of beauty that are unfair and unrealistic. Furthermore, thanks to living in a time and age when those of us with the funds and inclination can do so much to change our outer appearance, the pressure to conform to some crazy and, in many cases, unattainable standard has never been stronger. I get it. But that's not a valid argument against the health implications of overweight and obesity.
He does make some interesting observations about fat and obesity and our attitudes about fat and obesity. He claims we see being overweight as a moral failing and a weakness of character. We think of fat people as lazy, disgusting, and slothful. Even worse, the experts are now claiming they have a disease. We assume people are fat by choice or at least by lack of effort on their part. And I agree. Fatism is arguably the last acceptable "ism," but I don't think it's fair to equate fatism with sexism or racism or to assume that the public health message that encourages people to maintain a "healthy weight" is somehow just fatism in disguise.
I also agree with his assertion that our "war" against fat is actually making us fatter. Though, I don't believe there is some underlying conspiracy because the health and wellness industry has too much to gain from our attempts to lose weight.
Finally, Campos talks a lot about eating disorders. And while I don't agree with his use of anorexia to describe our mentality about food, I do believe that many people have a unhealthy relationship with food. I see it all the time when working with clients. So many people have so many confused ideas about food. And while misinformation and conflicting advice is partly to blame, it goes deeper than that. Some people use food much the same way that an addict might use heroin or an alcoholic might use alcohol. And it's kind of sad. Campos blames our "thin" culture. I blame the abnormal food environment in which we currently live. It's probably both and more.
At the very end of the book, Campos admits that despite his confident and self-assured narrative, he is actually just like everyone else. Ironically, in the course of writing the book, he lost 50 pounds by eating healthier and exercising more. Of course, he didn't diet (just made better food choices and denied himself on occasion.) Yeah, he dieted. He understands this makes him a hypocrite of sorts, but then why should he be any better than the rest of us.
All in all, this is an interesting read. Campos makes several worthwhile points that forced me stop and question my own beliefs about "fat." Obesity myth? Not quite, though I understand what he's getting at. We do live in a society obsessed with weight. Our obsession with weight does not seem to be making us thinner. To the contrary, we appear to be getting fatter thanks to an almost universal and unhealthy relationship with food that is worsening thanks to the never ending stream of quick-fix dieting trends. There is a correlation between excess weight and several diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, but it is impossible to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Weight is also not always an accurate reflection of body composition and/or health. It is also not clear if losing weight alone is enough to improve health, particularly if people can't keep the weight off for any significant period of time. Finally, there is ample evidence to suggest that making healthier food choices and getting regular exercise will have a positive impact on our health independent of weight and thus a more positive public health message might center more around promoting healthy behaviors and less around stigmatizing weight and fat. We also need a more accurate method of quantifying health that isn't centered around things like BMI. With BMI, you essentially get what you pay for. It's quick, easy, and cheap. Unfortunately, it doesn't really say anything about health other than maybe establishing those at the most extreme ranges of underweight and overweight (both with their own health implications.)
I'll add that when I work with clients, it is often a struggle to get them to abandon their scales. For whatever reason, many are fixated on those three little numbers. I spend a lot of time focusing on getting clients to accept and love their bodies "as is" and to show that love by taking care of it through a balanced diet and daily exercise. I also spend a lot of time helping people to learn to love, savor, and enjoy food, real food, not the crap that comes in a box or depends on processed oils, sugar and salt to make it taste "good." When they ask me about weight loss I tell them that if they eat healthy and exercise their bodies will generally gravitate toward a healthy weight even if that weight is not their "ideal."
November 1, 2012
YES. Just YES.
I've been really grateful for the experience to work in eating disorder (of all sorts) treatment, and it's raised my awareness about the absolute necessity of fat activism a significant amount. Here's the thing: feeling bad about your body, for whatever reason, has never helped anyone be healthier. Research is great--I am, after all, a social scientist--but it is less great when politics and hysteria play integral roles in how research is conducted, interpreted, and disseminated to the general public. Campos is a lawyer, not an obesity researcher himself, which I think really allows him to bring a critical eye and an appropriate sense of moral outrage to this issue. Even if obesity isn't of personal or professional relevance to you, this is a fascinating read. Tore through it on two plane rides, and would recommend it to anyone.
I've been really grateful for the experience to work in eating disorder (of all sorts) treatment, and it's raised my awareness about the absolute necessity of fat activism a significant amount. Here's the thing: feeling bad about your body, for whatever reason, has never helped anyone be healthier. Research is great--I am, after all, a social scientist--but it is less great when politics and hysteria play integral roles in how research is conducted, interpreted, and disseminated to the general public. Campos is a lawyer, not an obesity researcher himself, which I think really allows him to bring a critical eye and an appropriate sense of moral outrage to this issue. Even if obesity isn't of personal or professional relevance to you, this is a fascinating read. Tore through it on two plane rides, and would recommend it to anyone.
November 4, 2013
This book was pretty dry, but it raises the interesting question - is obesity really that unhealthy? My thoughts are now here.
March 3, 2014
This was a good book. There are places where he falls into the lesser zeitgeist mentality, but his central argument is solid. Obesity science is under-girded with some unsupported assumptions, and is contradicted with a host of unthinkable thoughts.
July 8, 2012
I love a good conspiracy theory/uncommon opinion, but this took it a little too far. I assumed this book would be more about the actual obsession and how society has unrealistic expectations, but no, it was a book about how being overweight is healthy for you and all the current research is wrong. Maybe it would have got more sane if I had read on, but I didn't feel the need to.
August 26, 2008
This book attacks the faulty foundations of the diet industry--and the medical establishment that erroneously supports them--with the relentless tenacity of a rabid dog. And I mean that in the best way possible.
Campos effectively argues that:
1) the vast majority of medical research done correlating weight and mortality provides negligible (if any) evidence of a connection between overweight/obesity and early death except in the most extreme circumstances;
2) most ill health associated with overweight/obesity are actually the results of yo-yo dieting, not excess weight;
3) the 'obesity myth' is perpetuated by a medical community whose research is paid for by the diet industry; and
4) our society gladly accepts the lies because they award it with an "acceptable" social pariah, i.e, obesity and the people 'slovenly' enough to let themselves become fat.
In the end, the whole thing is a real eye opener.
Campos effectively argues that:
1) the vast majority of medical research done correlating weight and mortality provides negligible (if any) evidence of a connection between overweight/obesity and early death except in the most extreme circumstances;
2) most ill health associated with overweight/obesity are actually the results of yo-yo dieting, not excess weight;
3) the 'obesity myth' is perpetuated by a medical community whose research is paid for by the diet industry; and
4) our society gladly accepts the lies because they award it with an "acceptable" social pariah, i.e, obesity and the people 'slovenly' enough to let themselves become fat.
In the end, the whole thing is a real eye opener.
June 11, 2008
A worthy book in theory, but The Obesity Myth was rather dismal in its execution. While Campos included some studies, both to refute and to use to support the idea that fatness is not inherently unhealthy, he cited few of them. This unfortunately had the effect of leaving the reader very much in the dark if they wanted to see the studies for themselves; furthermore, it does put the pall of doubt on your book if you will not display the studies to see.
Another fairly minor, but annoying thing I noted is Campos's bias against vegans. He seems to believe that vegans are all eating-disordered, dieters, or worse - he compared vegans to Hezbollah in his book. To this I have to say: are you FUCKING CRAZY?
Another fairly minor, but annoying thing I noted is Campos's bias against vegans. He seems to believe that vegans are all eating-disordered, dieters, or worse - he compared vegans to Hezbollah in his book. To this I have to say: are you FUCKING CRAZY?
May 28, 2013
Campos attacks public health guidelines and argues that being fat is not unhealthy (being active is more important than being thin). The science may be more complicated than that, but his examination of America's bizarre obsession with weight, as we all get bigger even as our role models get thinner and thinner, is really an eye-opener. If you've ever been on a diet (all 100% of you), read this book.
March 11, 2017
Campos severely underestimates the harmful nature of America's nutrition and dietary habits, while also admitting he felt better after losing weight himself. The only thing we agree on is that there is a "skinny culture" perpetuated by wealthy elites. In the end he makes no suggestions on how to fix American's mindset.
September 19, 2012
Every person should read this.
August 25, 2010
This is a very valuable book. My first instinct is to say that everyone should read this book, with some caveats. The thing is that this is the only book I've read so far that does the important and huge work of saying, quite simply, that the emperor has no clothes. Obesity is a myth. There are probably other books out there, and some of them might do better in certain areas, but until I've read them I will continue to recommend The Obesity Myth as a must-read.
Paul Campos touches on several important topics: the origins and manifestations of fat prejudice in our society, the junk science behind the very concept of obesity, the pervasive influence of this junk science, and the extent to which we live in a fundamentally eating-disordered culture. He also makes some good connections between our country's Puritan foundations, our culture of capitalism and consumerism, and our obsession with dieting and self-denial in general. I'm not going to spend too much time talking about the good parts of this book because I assume if you're interested in reading it, you already have a good idea of how much bullshit our society is mired in and you're mentally ready to hear some blunt and unsettling truths.
This book is not perfect. There are areas where it fails to be progressive. Campos spends a little too much time (read: any) distancing himself from "identity politics" and "political correctness". There is some ableist language (blindness, deafness). Campos also uses "crazy" talk a lot, in a way that I feel uncertain about--anorexia and bulimia are mental illnesses, and we are a fundamentally eating- (and therefore thinking-)disordered society. In that case it may be right to describe things as "crazy" and "insane". But I'm not sure Campos is using those words, in all instances, with quite that level of conscious thought behind them. Especially when describing behaviors normally engaged in by women in our society, it needs to be clear whether the author is purposefully using "crazy" or "insane" in a clinical sense.
Campos also invokes the "men really want women who look like x" trope a couple of times, which needs to be thrown out with the trash. There also seems to be some implicit dismissal of vegetarianism/veganism, which puzzled me—I couldn't tell if he thought all vegetarians/vegans followed that diet in the pursuit of weight loss (obviously untrue). There's a lot more to be said about veg*ism and thinness and fatness, and I wish Campos had either explored that topic or not brought it up at all. I also wish he had expanded the chapter on low-fat/fat-free foods and the like; unlike the chapters where he cites the scientific research on the link between weight and health, he doesn't cite much or any research on the link between nutrition and health. There's a lot of junk science to be debunked there, as well, and although I understand the topic may be too large for a single chapter, I wish he had at least pointed the way to some resources for further information.
There may, of course, be other areas where this book falls short that I did not notice because of my own privilege. On the whole, I consider it to be an important resource. I will continue to seek out other books that also deal with this topic.
Paul Campos touches on several important topics: the origins and manifestations of fat prejudice in our society, the junk science behind the very concept of obesity, the pervasive influence of this junk science, and the extent to which we live in a fundamentally eating-disordered culture. He also makes some good connections between our country's Puritan foundations, our culture of capitalism and consumerism, and our obsession with dieting and self-denial in general. I'm not going to spend too much time talking about the good parts of this book because I assume if you're interested in reading it, you already have a good idea of how much bullshit our society is mired in and you're mentally ready to hear some blunt and unsettling truths.
This book is not perfect. There are areas where it fails to be progressive. Campos spends a little too much time (read: any) distancing himself from "identity politics" and "political correctness". There is some ableist language (blindness, deafness). Campos also uses "crazy" talk a lot, in a way that I feel uncertain about--anorexia and bulimia are mental illnesses, and we are a fundamentally eating- (and therefore thinking-)disordered society. In that case it may be right to describe things as "crazy" and "insane". But I'm not sure Campos is using those words, in all instances, with quite that level of conscious thought behind them. Especially when describing behaviors normally engaged in by women in our society, it needs to be clear whether the author is purposefully using "crazy" or "insane" in a clinical sense.
Campos also invokes the "men really want women who look like x" trope a couple of times, which needs to be thrown out with the trash. There also seems to be some implicit dismissal of vegetarianism/veganism, which puzzled me—I couldn't tell if he thought all vegetarians/vegans followed that diet in the pursuit of weight loss (obviously untrue). There's a lot more to be said about veg*ism and thinness and fatness, and I wish Campos had either explored that topic or not brought it up at all. I also wish he had expanded the chapter on low-fat/fat-free foods and the like; unlike the chapters where he cites the scientific research on the link between weight and health, he doesn't cite much or any research on the link between nutrition and health. There's a lot of junk science to be debunked there, as well, and although I understand the topic may be too large for a single chapter, I wish he had at least pointed the way to some resources for further information.
There may, of course, be other areas where this book falls short that I did not notice because of my own privilege. On the whole, I consider it to be an important resource. I will continue to seek out other books that also deal with this topic.
July 9, 2010
popped up on my radar in part due to a series of articles by Megan McArdle of The Atlantic on health care and public health in general. To very simply paraphrase the overall concepts of the two pieces and the book, obesity is largely a societal construct based on old and bad science, our health results aren't actually worse as we become "fatter," nor are we really able to figure out how to keep weight off. The Obesity Myth attacks this concept the most, noting that the data we have (the book was published in 2004, for what it's worth) doesn't seem to correlate so much to health and obesity as much as the physiological problem with yo-yoing between weights. At best, the results are unclear, but common wisdom, etc. McArdle covers the basic premise well in her second link, but if you read both and find yourself interested in the topic further, pick up the book.
How does this relate to me at all? Well, it got me thinking a bit. First, I weigh about 180 pounds at 5'5" on average - I tend to dance around 175-185 depending on what's going on, but I'm surprisingly steady on this point. According to the US government's BMI chart, I'm right on the line of overweight and obese. According to the US government's BMI chart, so's Michael Jordan, to give some context.
I stated before that my "ideal," for what it's worth, was 155. Even at 155, I looked kinda chubby - a girlfriend at the time liked teasing me about the potbelly I had even then. After reading all this stuff (and there's plenty more that I have been reading, including a blog regarding how obesity appears to be a crutch of sorts for the medical establishment (called First, Do No Harm), I got thinking a little more about it. among the bad habits I had in school was eating one, maybe two meals most days, never with any sort of realistic pattern, and with even fewer nutrients. Only once I graduated and started eating on a three meal cycle again did I really start to, well, "fatten up," I suppose, and it's worth noting that I stopped expanding after a certain point. I've been 180 for years and years now, and I'm not eating any differently than I used to - probably a little better.
Now, it's not to say that I don't need to improve myself still - a lifestyle with little exercise, which is borderline me, is not healthy either, and I can fix that - but I can start looking at ways to improve my life without worrying about whether I weigh the "right" amount. It's just not something I really want to do for myself in terms of sacrifice, and it turns out that the data may suggest that I shouldn't be worrying about anyway. So really, I should just find a dodgeball league and be done with it, right?
How does this relate to me at all? Well, it got me thinking a bit. First, I weigh about 180 pounds at 5'5" on average - I tend to dance around 175-185 depending on what's going on, but I'm surprisingly steady on this point. According to the US government's BMI chart, I'm right on the line of overweight and obese. According to the US government's BMI chart, so's Michael Jordan, to give some context.
I stated before that my "ideal," for what it's worth, was 155. Even at 155, I looked kinda chubby - a girlfriend at the time liked teasing me about the potbelly I had even then. After reading all this stuff (and there's plenty more that I have been reading, including a blog regarding how obesity appears to be a crutch of sorts for the medical establishment (called First, Do No Harm), I got thinking a little more about it. among the bad habits I had in school was eating one, maybe two meals most days, never with any sort of realistic pattern, and with even fewer nutrients. Only once I graduated and started eating on a three meal cycle again did I really start to, well, "fatten up," I suppose, and it's worth noting that I stopped expanding after a certain point. I've been 180 for years and years now, and I'm not eating any differently than I used to - probably a little better.
Now, it's not to say that I don't need to improve myself still - a lifestyle with little exercise, which is borderline me, is not healthy either, and I can fix that - but I can start looking at ways to improve my life without worrying about whether I weigh the "right" amount. It's just not something I really want to do for myself in terms of sacrifice, and it turns out that the data may suggest that I shouldn't be worrying about anyway. So really, I should just find a dodgeball league and be done with it, right?
February 26, 2012
A very enlightening look at the culture of weight loss.
The Pros: Campos is great in the beginning of the book, when he points out the methodological flaws in famous obesity studies. I've never read those studies before, so for me, it was great to see them and their flaws (such as removing all smokers, who just happened to be overwhelmingly thin). The author explains the statistical tricks that the weight loss industry uses to make obesity seem more dangerous than it really is. I also enjoyed the chapter "Feminist Accused of Unsightly Weight Gain", where Campos attacks Susan Estrich's weight loss book. Some choice quotations are: “If everybody else at the table were shooting heroin, would you? If they were committing slow suicide, would you?...Eating is suicidal. Which is worse, wasting a croissant, or using it to speed up your death, and make your hips fat?” and a passage about staying thin to keep your husband happy (this from a renowned feminist.)
The Cons: Campos is not a scientist, he is a lawyer. Therefore, I felt that he couldn't really dig into certain topics. He mostly relies on interviews with actual scientists and he does a fairly good job of relaying the information, but it still feels somewhat constrained. Also, he tends to repeat the same points throughout the book, which gets a repetitive. Lastly, I think he oversteps his reach at certain points, mostly notably when he tries to link the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal to weight loss. Let's just say that his forte is not psychology.
Overall, definitely worth a read. I would give this book 3.5 stars, because the limitations and repetitions tend to drag down the narrative. But I can say that after reading this book, I can't look at any weight loss study or commercial the same.
*By the way, Susan Estrich is a highly respected professor of law from Harvard, campaign manager from Candidate Dukakis and otherwise very well respected, so her writing a diet book was very strange to me in the first place.
The Pros: Campos is great in the beginning of the book, when he points out the methodological flaws in famous obesity studies. I've never read those studies before, so for me, it was great to see them and their flaws (such as removing all smokers, who just happened to be overwhelmingly thin). The author explains the statistical tricks that the weight loss industry uses to make obesity seem more dangerous than it really is. I also enjoyed the chapter "Feminist Accused of Unsightly Weight Gain", where Campos attacks Susan Estrich's weight loss book. Some choice quotations are: “If everybody else at the table were shooting heroin, would you? If they were committing slow suicide, would you?...Eating is suicidal. Which is worse, wasting a croissant, or using it to speed up your death, and make your hips fat?” and a passage about staying thin to keep your husband happy (this from a renowned feminist.)
The Cons: Campos is not a scientist, he is a lawyer. Therefore, I felt that he couldn't really dig into certain topics. He mostly relies on interviews with actual scientists and he does a fairly good job of relaying the information, but it still feels somewhat constrained. Also, he tends to repeat the same points throughout the book, which gets a repetitive. Lastly, I think he oversteps his reach at certain points, mostly notably when he tries to link the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal to weight loss. Let's just say that his forte is not psychology.
Overall, definitely worth a read. I would give this book 3.5 stars, because the limitations and repetitions tend to drag down the narrative. But I can say that after reading this book, I can't look at any weight loss study or commercial the same.
*By the way, Susan Estrich is a highly respected professor of law from Harvard, campaign manager from Candidate Dukakis and otherwise very well respected, so her writing a diet book was very strange to me in the first place.
August 24, 2008
This book made a lot of interesting observations, some of which are now supported by further research. (For example, cholesterol and triglyceride levels make more difference in risk of "obesity-related" problems like heart attack risk, than does the amount of fat itself.)
I particularly liked that it challenged popular assumptions in clear, comprehensible ways. For example, obese people have health risks beyond those of nonobese people. It's easy to assume that, therefore, all obese people should lose weight in order to reduce risk. But, consider: fair-skinned people have a higher risk of skin cancer than do dark-skinned people. The logic of the slimming industry, applied here, would suggest that fair-skinned people should tan to darken their skin to reduce their risk ... but as almost everyone now knows, this is exactly the wrong approach, and dramatically increases risk!
Paul Campos also calls attention to the less-popularized but very real health risks of being underweight, and how the focus on obesity has led to ignoring these risks.
This is NOT a book to say, "Be happy fat and don't bother losing weight." It's definitely a good idea for anyone, of any shape, to act to improve physical fitness and stamina, and to eat a healthy diet. When these things are in balance and other disorder is absent, morbid obesity isn't likely ... and neither is emaciation. Paul Campos does suggest, though, that fitness and nutrition are more important than waistline measurements, and that we should think critically about what the popular media tells us regarding our health before swallowing it whole.
I particularly liked that it challenged popular assumptions in clear, comprehensible ways. For example, obese people have health risks beyond those of nonobese people. It's easy to assume that, therefore, all obese people should lose weight in order to reduce risk. But, consider: fair-skinned people have a higher risk of skin cancer than do dark-skinned people. The logic of the slimming industry, applied here, would suggest that fair-skinned people should tan to darken their skin to reduce their risk ... but as almost everyone now knows, this is exactly the wrong approach, and dramatically increases risk!
Paul Campos also calls attention to the less-popularized but very real health risks of being underweight, and how the focus on obesity has led to ignoring these risks.
This is NOT a book to say, "Be happy fat and don't bother losing weight." It's definitely a good idea for anyone, of any shape, to act to improve physical fitness and stamina, and to eat a healthy diet. When these things are in balance and other disorder is absent, morbid obesity isn't likely ... and neither is emaciation. Paul Campos does suggest, though, that fitness and nutrition are more important than waistline measurements, and that we should think critically about what the popular media tells us regarding our health before swallowing it whole.
September 2, 2018
The Obesity Myth by Paul Campos discusses the ideas of Obesity being a myth. It isn’t that obesity doesn’t exist, the book tells us that obesity just isn’t that much of a health hazard as it is made out to be. By using vital statistics and medical science Campos patiently dismantles the arguments saying that we have to be a particular weight. In that sense, it turns modern medical science on its head. Most people say that being a healthy weight is important to lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Campos just comes along and says that this is not correct.
Take the BMI chart for example; using a mathematical formula it takes your height and weight into account and tells you whether or not you are obese. The BMI charts are merely an offshoot of the MetLife Insurance tables that were drawn up in the 1940s. The BMI is supposed to be more accurate but doesn’t seem to take musculature and body type into account. There are many stories of people in the fitness and fat-loss industry lobbying Congress into approving horrible drugs like fen-phen and others. It is true that they took it off the market, but the initial idea was that it aided in weight-loss.
I don’t particularly appreciate being fed an agenda, and in some ways that seems like what the author is doing. The suggestions for further reading are mostly books on how weight issues are the core of feminism or something. Of course we all aren’t going to look like underwear models if we are healthy, that shouldn’t be a goal. The goal should be to not be sedentary, but what do I really know about all that? I’m not a doctor.
Take the BMI chart for example; using a mathematical formula it takes your height and weight into account and tells you whether or not you are obese. The BMI charts are merely an offshoot of the MetLife Insurance tables that were drawn up in the 1940s. The BMI is supposed to be more accurate but doesn’t seem to take musculature and body type into account. There are many stories of people in the fitness and fat-loss industry lobbying Congress into approving horrible drugs like fen-phen and others. It is true that they took it off the market, but the initial idea was that it aided in weight-loss.
I don’t particularly appreciate being fed an agenda, and in some ways that seems like what the author is doing. The suggestions for further reading are mostly books on how weight issues are the core of feminism or something. Of course we all aren’t going to look like underwear models if we are healthy, that shouldn’t be a goal. The goal should be to not be sedentary, but what do I really know about all that? I’m not a doctor.
December 7, 2007
The western world and the United States especially is insanely preoccupied with dieting. Normal weights of normal people are considered overweight. People believe being "overweight" will cause them to die young. Some doctors still believe this. People undergo life-threatening surgeries that induce starvation diets so that they will lose weight. The multi-billion dollar dieting industry continues to sell its message even while more people catch on that diets don't work.
Like Eric Oliver with Fat Politics, Paul Campos began his research believing the obesity myth and he just wanted to get to the bottom of it. What he found instead were fictions and obsessions. I'm considering buying this book for people I know who still waste time and self-esteem worrying about their weight.
Like Eric Oliver with Fat Politics, Paul Campos began his research believing the obesity myth and he just wanted to get to the bottom of it. What he found instead were fictions and obsessions. I'm considering buying this book for people I know who still waste time and self-esteem worrying about their weight.
August 9, 2012
In some ways I think this should actually be called "the overweight myth" rather than the obesity myth. I have not yet seen well-documented scientific research that says that obesity, esp. 100+ lbs above average weight, is just as healthy as "normal" BMI levels. I'd love to see that research done. I would also love to see research on joint pain and size, because this does affect quality of life. This is one of many books that uses good science in some ways but is lacking in others. Overall a good read, though, and I loved the later chapters. Individual books can't cover every subject, but they need to be as comprehensive as possible. The title does not truly represent the content.
December 11, 2019
This book could use some heavy editing. While I agree with the sentiment of the author and think he spreads a much needed message, he is all over the place repeating the same points over and again. Every couple of pages or so you get the vibe you're reading the same ideas restated using different research articles or historical situations. You feel you're not advancing at all in your knowledge of the subject matter after the first chapter or two.
November 23, 2010
Interesting - the evidence suggests, say this author, that it is exercise and good diet that are the determinents of good health, rather than reaching an ideal weight. Worse of all to health is extreme dieting and weight change.
Good material on the pressure to conform to a certain weight, shape (Hollywood determined) and BMI etc, and its impact on women, happiness and health.
Good material on the pressure to conform to a certain weight, shape (Hollywood determined) and BMI etc, and its impact on women, happiness and health.
February 26, 2016
in 2003 this may have gotten 5 star but the info in here is 13 years old and nothing new or ground breaking. and still our doctors and now insurance determine our worthiness of care and as human beings on BMI so nothing has changed.
March 25, 2010
Really do wish everyone would read this.
February 23, 2021
Is your weight hazardous to your health? If you took as gospel everything the media tells us, then everyone would answer 'Yes', but is it that simple? This book looks at the science behind the headlines in the studies and asks why we are so often given advice that contradicts the results. After all, if it really were as simple as counting calories and exercise, then no-one would be overweight.
As this book was published quite a while ago, the reader has to exercise (pun intended) caution, however, the main thing that I came away with from this book is that we are focussing on the wrong aspect. We should be focussing on raising activity levels, therefore increasing health of the cardiovascular system among others, rather than purely on weight loss. After all, studies have shown that overweight and obese people benefit from being less sedentary, just as much and maybe more than thinner people. There were some interesting arguments in the book but some of the points were banged on about for too long.
As this book was published quite a while ago, the reader has to exercise (pun intended) caution, however, the main thing that I came away with from this book is that we are focussing on the wrong aspect. We should be focussing on raising activity levels, therefore increasing health of the cardiovascular system among others, rather than purely on weight loss. After all, studies have shown that overweight and obese people benefit from being less sedentary, just as much and maybe more than thinner people. There were some interesting arguments in the book but some of the points were banged on about for too long.
September 8, 2018
I have a degree in nutrition and I agree with everything the author says. It is tremendously difficult to talk to people about how weight isn’t as big of a health risk as it is made out to be. The brainwashing that fat is bad is so deep that I get shut down by people when I stand up against fat shaming. It was satisfying to read something I agreed with. I also point out to people that it is possible to be both fat and malnourished. A focus on people getting all the vitamins and minerals they need in their diet is much better for health then losing weight.
April 7, 2019
I found this to be a fascinating read. Even if you only believe a small part of the arguments in this book, I think its a really telling damnation of much of the rhetoric surrounding weight in the US. Some of the book is a bit dated, but especially the first 60 odd pages are really relevant and interesting.
December 13, 2018
Good understanding of culture and the power that the falsehood of fat = bad allows in furthering the story of others. Don't agree that there are no solutions to the issue though. Definitely worth a read.
June 26, 2022
I got kind of bored by the end, partly because everything is written around current events that happened twenty years ago.
Nutshell message: go for a walk, eat fruits and vegetables; everything else is just trying to sell you stuff you don't need.
Nutshell message: go for a walk, eat fruits and vegetables; everything else is just trying to sell you stuff you don't need.
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