Roberta Pollack Seid

Never Too Thin is an eye opening history of how the ultra thin body type became the most desired body type in our society. Through cited research the author pokes holes in the much revered idea that thinner is always healthier and suggests that "evidence" of such is largely the result of misintepreted data. Seid takes particular aim at images in advertising throughout the 20th century as well as the study done by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in which it was concluded that longer life spans were associated with lower weights. Pointing out that the method of gathering data from policy holders was somewhat sloppy and did not allow for other contributing factors besides weight -in many cases the clients just stated their weights without having to get on a scale!- Seid raises important questions about all we have assumed to be true regarding weight. She advocates instead for us to get back to what she refers to as a "golden mean" and to cultivate a greater tolerance for a variety of body types. Reading this book caused me to realize that instead of seeking for some unattainable "ideal weight" the easiest and smartest thing to do is to strive for a more healthy lifestyle regardless of weight. Seid is a history scholar and the book can be a bit academic and dry in areas, but I would highly reccommend Never Too Thin for anyone struggling with body image issues. Though written in 1989, Never Too Thin carries a timely message for today as the rhetoric surrounding the obesity epidemic grows louder.… (mehr)