In The Fattening of America, renowned health economist Eric Finkelstein, along with business writer Laurie Zuckerman, reveal how the U.S. economy has become the driving force behind our expanding waistlines. Blending theory, research, and engaging personal anecdotes the authors discuss how declining food costs especially for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and an increasing usage of technology, which make Americans more sedentary, has essentially led us to eat more calories than we burn off.

In The Fattening of America, renowned health economist Eric Finkelstein, along with business writer Laurie Zuckerman, reveal how the U.S. economy has become the driving force behind our expanding waistlines. Blending theory, research, and engaging personal anecdotes the authors discuss how declining food costs--especially for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods--and an increasing usage of technology, which make Americans more sedentary, has essentially led us to eat more calories than we burn off.

Introduction: Answering the Age-Old Question: Why is Uncle Al So Fat? ixChapter 1 Craze or Crisis? 1So Why Now? 2My Soccer Team Eats Oranges 3So How about Adults? Are We Gaining, Too? 7A Growing Waistline Can Be Bad for Your Health 10But Are We the Only Ones Gaining Weight? 13The Longer You Stay, the Bigger You Get 16Chapter 2 I'll Take a Deep-Fried Coca-Cola 17First Things First 18Cheap Food Gets Cheaper 19The Rise of French-Fried Potatoes 22Please Pass the High-Fructose Corn Syrup 24A Full Pound of Sausage, Bacon, and Ham: Have a Meaty Morning 28Too Much of a Good Thing 31Kids Are Also Drinking the Kool-Aid 33When is Enough Enough? 34Chapter 3 Why We're Moving Less (Hint: It's Not Just the La-Z-Boy) 37But I Don't Have Time! 38Not Quite the Jetsons, But . . . 40Just Be a Marathon Runner 44We're Not Farmers Anymore 45Sprawling Out 47Our Kids Are Also Slowing Down 48Wrapping It Up 49Chapter 4 So Where Else Can We Lay the Blame? 51Blame Mom and Dad 52Then Just Blame Mom (You Know You Will Anyway) 55Blame the Meds 56Blame the Cigs (One More Theory Goes Up in Smoke) 59Blame the All-Nighter 61Blame the Air Conditioner (Not Cool) 62Blame Pollution (It's a Dirty Business) 63Blame That Nasty "Fat Bug" 64It's the Economy, Stupid 67Chapter 5 Beware: Moral Hazard 69Just Bill My Health Insurance 71Is Obesity as Bad as It Used to Be? 74Just Take a Pill or Get a Procedure 76Chapter 6 So We're Fat--Who Cares? 81Is Uncle Al Overweight? 82C'mon Now, We're Only Utility Maximizing 85Now, Let's Tear This Argument Apart (and Put It Back Together) 88So Should Dad (and the Government) Care that Uncle Al is Obese? 91Just Follow the Money 93Chapter 7 The Role of Government 101Market Failures 103Externalities 105Market Power 107Public Goods 108Obesity and National Defense 109Imperfect (Asymmetric) Information 111Is There a Role for Government? 115Chapter 8 Weighing the Public Policy Issues (for Adults) 117Equity 118Irrationality 122Compelling Public Need 123Revisiting Past Policy 125The Road Ahead 138Summing Up 151Chapter 9 Weighing the Public Policy Issues (for Kids) 153First, a Step Back 155Child Abuse? 160School-Based Regulations 161Your Mouth Will Really Groove 175In Closing 179Chapter 10 The Employer's Dilemma 181Why Don't Businesses Invest More in the Health of Their Workforce? 182The Dirty Secret about Employee Wellness Programs 189So What's an Employer to Do? 192Could These Programs Get Me in Legal Hot Water? 201Chapter 11 The ObesEconomy 203Just How Big is the Weight-Loss Industry? 204Just Take a Pill 209Bigger and Better 214Invest in New Technology 219In the Name of Progress 221Chapter 12 How to Lose Weight Like an Economist 223Economic Weight-Loss Techniques 226A Few More Secrets to Success 231Conclusion 234Notes 239About the Authors 267Index 269