FED UP! The Breakthrough Ten-Step No-Diet Fitness Plan

Oliver-Pyatt, a psychiatrist and expert on eating disorders, contends that the weight problem in the U.S. is compounded by America's obsession with thin and beautiful superstars. She argues that dieting is the problem rather than a solution and stresses that sometimes dieting is unhealthy and can lead to other difficulties ranging from heart ailments and gallstones to tooth decay. Oliver-Pyatt believes that people must accept a more realistic individual weight and recognize that their happiness and success is not dependent on their physical appearance. Understanding these factors are the first steps toward successful weight management, and only then can people learn to manage food intake and exercise realistically. The advice is straightforward and sensible (how to plan for smart eating when you know that you'll be going to a restaurant or eating with friends; how to discuss your issues with food with family so you can avoid unpleasant arguments at the dinner table; take the time to exercise, even simply walking to reduce your stress and help you maintain a healthy attitude). Oliver-Pyatt has double credibility as a medical doctor who struggled with weight problems as an adolescent and teen and knows firsthand how difficult it is to maintain a healthy weight. The book is a refreshing approach to weight management but is unlikely to take the place of specific diets. Furthermore, this reasonable approach may not be enough for people who have spent years fighting their weight or need to follow a specific diet in order to eat properly. (Nov.)