Obesity

With the obesity dilemma constantly in the news, this is a timely volume. Full of charts, information boxes, photos and points for debate, the information is clear and complete. In the case of statistics, almost too much so. The statistical evidence is breathtakingly overwhelming and might well put children off. However, there are huge amounts of ‘real’ information too. For instance, I did not know that overweight children often become overweight adults because fat cells are produced as they are growing, and by the end of puberty, the number of fat cells is established for life. One cannot get rid of them, though one can reduce the amount of fat in each cell. An excellent reason for concern about obesity in children! Chapters on: the causes of obesity, how it affects health, obesity in the young, obesity in the developing world, and creating a healthy future, along with an index, a glossary, websites for further information, and some possible answers to the debate questions will make this useful in schools. ES