Waistland: The R/evolutionary Science Behind Our Weight and Fitness Crisis Review
Americans have a lower rate of success in dieting than they do with drug rehabilitation, which tells us that we are doing something wrong. So whenever a new perspective on the American diet comes out, I am quick to jump on it.
This book isn't so much of a diet guide as it is a commentary on the way the human body is meant to eat and how we can get there. What makes this book different is that it challenges many of the strongly held beliefs that we have in place about dieting today, such as: our hunter-gatherer ancestors were always on the brink of starvation and struggling with their health (they weren't), that dieting isn't about willpower (it is), that the modern body ideal is too skinny (it hasn't changed much over the years and Marilyn Monroe was tiny, when she did gain weight towards the end of her life, she was slammed by the press for being fat) or even that we can lose weight without sacrifice.
This book tells us about how our bodies were made to eat through years of evolution, mainly vegetables, fruits and protein with only a little grain, with no refined anything, and it tell us how our modern world fights us in achieving that ideal. It also discusses the consequences of our modern diet and rounds it all out by telling us how we might return to a healthy diet. The author only makes a few suggestions on how to diet on a personal level, but rounds it all out with broader suggestions on how we can change the American food system in general to bring us back to the way that we should be eating.
To be sure, this book makes some controversial statements (we should lay off anything refined altogether because it is easier than practicing moderation, suggesting hypnotherapy and that we should treat refined foods like drugs) but it also makes some great suggestions and superb points. Whether you agree with everything this author has to say or not, I would suggest that anyone concerned about their health at least give this book a read.
Waistland: The R/evolutionary Science Behind Our Weight and Fitness Crisis Overview
Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett tackles the obesity and fitness crisis from an evolutionary standpoint. In the modern jungle of burgers, couches, and remote controls, obesity is an enormous and growing epidemic. Weight-loss books and diet gurus urge us to "listen to our bodies," but our instincts are designed for the African savannah, not food courts. The sugary and fatty foods that we, as hunter-gatherers, are programmed to forage used to be hard to come by. Now they're as close as the vending machine down the hall.
Radical changes are necessary and, fortunately, are biologically easier than small or gradual changes in diet. Barrett tells us how to reprogram our bodies, break food addictions, and ignore our attraction to "supernormal stimuli"—artificial creations that appeal to our instincts more than the natural objects they mimic. Barrett delves into scientific research—from animal ethology to evolution—to show the disastrous direction in which our instincts have led us, and how, using our intellect, we can get back on course. 50 illustrations
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Customer Reviews
Throught Provoking and Funny - Minty Fresh - Brooklyn
I never would have thought that the instincts we've developed during evolution would also drive us to high levels of obesity. Deirdre Barrett shocked me with a critical thought or statistic on almost every page. From the first chapter to the last, this booked changed my perspective on the REAL issues with America's health and showed me steps we can take to improve our ever expanding problem. Being from generation "Y" that not only expects great content but also to be entertained, this book has become one of my favorites. Dr. Barret's sense of humor and satire kept me reading long after my ADHD usually allows me too. This book made me realize that even our highly evolved human brains are effected by super normal stimuli everyday. My hope is that our brains are big enough to learn to control our instincts in a world of junk food and immobility, before it effects our health and happiness.
Love this woman, love this book - Andrea - San Francisco, Ca
Her findings and advice are revolutionary and enlightening. Her notion of rejecting supernormal stimuli and recalibrating our tastebuds is sorely needed.
Smart analysis of our health crisis - Richard Aru -
Whether you are just trying to understand why our society is in such bad shape physically or looking for the best advice scientific research generates on weight loss or excercise, this book is smart, witty and readable. It introduces the concept of "supernormal stimuli" which is the focus of Barrett's 2010 book analyzing the cause of a broader range of our society's problems, but here the focus stays on health and how to improve it. Highly recommended!
wonderful book, and for me, life changing - T. Sanchez - Virginia
I am already on board with the various ideas presented in the book regarding health, culture and lifestyle, and found the book amazing. It was like having a full semester of information with a fascinating university professor in your hands. I picked up the book 2 weeks ago, not having chosen it as a diet book, but the very next day I made big changes in my eating habits, and have already lost 4 pounds. As of 2 weeks ago I was 25 pounds overweight, so I'm hoping the trend continues, and fully expecting it to. I had been trying to lose weight with no success for over 2 years (I already work out about 5 times a week), and this book has really changed my life. My energy level is already so much higher after just 2 weeks. Again, I just picked this book up as an interesting read, and had no idea it would change my life, and quality of life, like this. THANK YOU to the author of this book.
Even if you have no weight to lose, I recommend the book as an excellent read. There are other topics covered which greatly improve quality of life as well.
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edited to add: It has now been almost 9 weeks since I picked up this book, and I am down FOURTEEN pounds. Just from this book, nothing else. Amazing! This book is very dear to me. Two of my friends are now reading it after my nonstop talk about it.
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edited one year later: I ended up losing a total of 35 pounds (and keeping it off!) as a result of reading this book. WOO HOO!!!
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