Don't worry, this is not another diatribe on what you are doing or not doing that will inevitably lead to your rapid expansion and premature end. And there are no diet schemes or exercise plans. Instead, the authors argue: "The modern world is making us fat". It may not be a novel argument, but it is certainly topical for Australians: a June 2008 study by Melbourne's Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute found that 26 per cent of our population is considered obese, compared to 25 per cent of Americans.
The seven deadly sins paradigm is used to describe elements of contemporary life that have produced the "obesogenic environment". Each of the chapters is written by a different author from the Australian National University, in Canberra, and discusses one 'sin', including "Time pressures", "Obsessions with technology" and "The marketing of unhealthy products".
The authors reveal many factors beyond the control of the individual that influence our collective bulge. The biggest influences seem to be psychological. For example, they argue that our idea of what constitutes leisure time has shifted from the pursuit of active interests to sedentary 'recovery'.
The book also delves into the insidious side effects of an economically driven society. It explores how the distinction between want and need is blurred in this marketing culture. The big food chains take advantage of this with their formula for success: people always succumb to "greater value" – we super-size our meals, forgetting what we actually need. But while the obesity epidemic may be a strain on society, if people slow their consumption, the economy slows too.
The authors argue that the initiative needs to come from the top down; with better town planning, more detailed dietary advice from government and practical steps such as introducing compulsory labelling of foods with a 'standard meals' count, similar to the 'standard drinks' on alcohol bottles. Some of the evidence collected on this topic can seem a little contradictory. That said, the arguments are thoroughly researched and supported, and interesting to boot.
