Rethinking Thin

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I'm in the middle of reading an eye-opening book that explores the scientific data and cultural obsessions behind thinness. It's not a diet book; rather, it's an exploration of both medical studies and anecdotal experiences in the quests to redesign our bodies. And while we may assume that the preoccupations with being skinny is new, the horrors of dieting were just as prevalent at the turn of the last century.

In this eye-opening report, New York Times science writer Gina Kolata shows that our society's obsession with dieting is less about keeping trim and staying healthy than about money, power, trends, and impossible ideals. Kolata's account of four determined dieters in a study comparing the Atkins diet to a low-calorie one becomes a broad tale of science and society, of social mores and social sanctions, and of the place of diets in American society. Brimming with anecdote, scientific data, and common sense, Rethinking Thin offers a challenge to the conventional wisdom about diets and weight loss.

It's a must-read for anyone fascinated by the dieting industry, confused by the conflicting messages from "experts" or looking to feel a little less alone on your quest for self-acceptance.

Pick up your copy of Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss--And the Myths and Realities of Dieting at Amazon.ca.

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Rethinking Thin

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