It is astonishing the way we became fat in the United States. Author Greg Critser looks at the issue, starting 30 years, ago when we imported palm oil and produced high fructose corn syrup to reduce the cost of food to families. Turns out palm oil has more saturated fat than hog lard and corn syrup, well, it seems to be the root of all diet evil. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is in everything from pop to muffins, restricts fat burning. Yes, causes the body to store fat. He notes that a daily pop beverage increases a child’s BMI by .18 points no matter their exercise level.

Critser gives a history of fast food, how they got into schools, and how that has led to larger portions and more fat. That’s "dietary fat." Oh, but the fat cells weren’t far behind. Being overweight is the one constant for diabetes, and HFCS is instrumental in the increase of obesity and diabetes in the U.S.

What is interesting for a Fitness/Health professional is the discrepancy through the years as to what constitutes a satisfactory amount of daily exercise. Many PhDs gave their input, and they all seemed to be different. AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) had an agenda as did the American Heart Association, and there was also the Center for Disease Control (CDC). See how PE programs became too costly and were pushed aside. Look at the conflicts among professionals over fitness testing in our country, and why we don’t see much fat testing. The military did pull-ups to see if soldiers could pull themselves from a fox hole or up through a window. That’s why it’s on most tests.

With obesity rates up, and Type 2 (fat related) diabetes exploding, it is a very scary world we live in, especially among the poor. What are the medical and economic consequences? What can we do? It’s all there. Critser give us some hope in the last chapter, "What Can Be Done."

He paints a picture in this book, with enough technical detail for the general reader, that will make you stop dead in your tracks and reevaluate your own habits as well as those you come in contact with. A great read.

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