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E-book
Author Finkelstein, Eric.

Title The fattening of America : how the economy makes us fat, if it matters, and what to do about it / Eric A. Finkelstein, Laurie Zuckerman
Published Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, ©2008

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Description 1 online resource (xiii, 274 pages) : illustrations
Contents Introduction : answering the age-old question : why is Uncle Al so fat? -- 1. Craze or crisis? -- So why now? -- My soccer team eats oranges -- So how about adults? Are we gaining, too? -- A growing waistline can be bad for your health -- But are we the only ones gaining weight? -- The longer you stay, the bigger you get -- 2. I'll take a deep-fried coca-cola -- First things first -- Cheap food gets cheaper -- The rise of French-fried potatoes -- Please pass the high-fructose corn syrup -- A full pound of sausage, bacon, and ham : have a meaty morning -- Too much of a good thing -- Kids are also drinking the Kool-Aid -- When is enough enough? -- 3. Why we're moving less (Hint : it's not just the La-Z-Boy) -- But I don't have time! -- Not quite the Jetsons, but ... -- Just be a marathon runner -- We're not farmers anymore -- Sprawling out -- Our kids are also slowing down -- Wrapping it up
4. So where else can we lay the blame? -- Blame mom and dad -- Then just blame mom (you know you will anyway) -- Blame the meds -- Blame the cigs (one more theory goes up in smoke) -- Blame the all-nighter -- Blame the air conditioner (not cool) -- Blame pollution (it's dirty business) -- Blame that nasty "fat bug" -- It's the economy, stupid -- 5. Beware : moral hazard -- Just bill my health insurance -- Is obesity as bad as it used to be? -- Just take a pill or get a procedure -- 6. So we're fat, who cares? -- Is Uncle Al overweight? -- C'mon now, we're only utility maximizing -- Now, let's tear this argument apart (and put it back together) -- So should dad (and the government) care that Uncle Al is obese? -- Just follow the money -- 7. The role of government -- Market failures -- Externalities -- Market power -- Public goods -- Obesity and national defense -- Imperfect (asymmetric) information -- Is there a role for government?
8. Weighing the public policy issues (for adults) -- Equity -- Irrationality -- Compelling public need -- Revisiting past policy -- The road ahead -- Summing up -- 9. Weighing the public policy issues (for kids) -- First, a step back -- Child abuse? -- School-based regulations -- Your mouth will really groove -- In closing -- 10. The employer's dilemma -- Why don't businesses invest more in the health of their workforce? -- The dirty secret about employee wellness programs -- So what's an employer to do? -- Could these programs get me in legal hot water? -- 11. The obeseconomy -- Just how big is the weight-loss industry? -- Just take a pill -- Bigger and better -- Invest in new technology -- In the name of progress -- 12. How to lose weight like an economist -- Economic weight-loss techniques -- A few more secrets to success -- Conclusion
Summary Eric Finkelstein is a renowned health economist who has spent much of his career studying the economics of obesity. Now, with the help of coauthor Laurie Zuckerman, he skillfully reveals the economic drivers behind America's growing obesity epidemic
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Obesity -- Economic aspects -- United States
Obesity.
Diet in disease.
Food habits.
Obesity -- prevention & control
Obesity -- prevention & control -- United States -- Popular Works
Obesity -- economics -- United States -- Popular Works
Risk Factors -- Popular Works -- United States
Socioeconomic Factors -- Popular Works -- United States
Obesity -- Popular Works -- economics -- United States
Diet -- Popular Works -- economics -- United States
Feeding Behavior -- Popular Works -- psychology -- United States
Obesity -- Popular Works -- prevention & control -- United States
Obesity
Diet
Feeding Behavior
Diet -- economics
Feeding Behavior -- psychology
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Obesity -- economics
Diet -- economics -- United States -- Popular Works
Feeding Behavior -- psychology -- United States -- Popular Works
Risk Factors -- United States -- Popular Works
Socioeconomic Factors -- United States -- Popular Works
MEDICAL -- Bariatrics.
Obesity.
Food habits.
Diet in disease.
SUBJECT United States
Subject United States.
Form Electronic book
Author Zuckerman, Laurie, 1972-
ISBN 9780470245774
0470245778