The Evolution of Obesity

In this sweeping exploration of the relatively recent obesityepidemic, Michael L. Power and Jay Schulkin probe evolutionarybiology, history, physiology, and medical science to uncover thecauses of our growing girth. The unexpected answer? Our ownevolutionary success.For most of the past few million years, ourevolutionary ancestors' survival depended on being able to consumeas much as possible when food was available and to store the excessenergy for periods when it was scarce. In the developed worldtoday, high-calorie foods are readily obtainable, yet thepropensity to store fat is part of our species' heritage, leavingan increasing number of the world's people vulnerable to obesity.In an environment of abundant food, we are anatomically,physiologically, metabolically, and behaviorally programmed in away that makes it difficult for us to avoid gaining weight.Powerand Schulkin's engagingly argued book draws on popular examples andsound science to explain our...