Fat: What No One Is Telling You

Here's the plain unadorned truth: most dieters never lose weight, and those who do rarely keep the pounds off. If, like myself, you are now starting to see your navel in middle-aged spare-tire terms rather than as a gateway to youthful philosophical gazing, this is decidedly depressing news. Many of us are locked into the old “this-donut-is-good-I'll-lose-weight-tomorrow” mindset, which makes the primeval part of our brain happy (since it still remembers famines from the distant human past and therefore continues to store fat against lean times—not comprehending that food in our super-size-me society is both plentiful and cheap). Unfortunately, with 66% of the U.S. adult population now either overweight or obese, the health toll (increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, etc.) is concurrently on the rise. Filmmaker Andrew Fredericks' PBS-aired documentary Fat: What No One Is Telling You features numerous interviews of people struggling with weight problems, including comic Mary Dimino, who works out three hours daily just to maintain her weight; teen award-winning radio journalist Rocky Tayeh, who undergoes gastric bypass surgery and loses 147 lbs., and Carla Hurd, who is embarking on a healthy lifestyle program with her husband David. Interwoven throughout are insights from medical experts and activists (including Dr. America Bracho, who is tireless in her efforts to reach out to the Latino community with important health education). Although occasionally a bit scattershot, this is a solid mix of personal narrative, contemporary science (turns out that gastric bypass surgery works not only because the stomach is smaller, but also because certain nerve paths are cut), and social commentary (children's author Daniel Pinkwater notes that overweight people are the last safe target for insensitive humor). Fat suggests that while no magic pill is likely to be found soon, serious lifestyle changes and/or surgery can ultimately tip the scales in the right direction. DVD extras include a half-hour panel discussion and PDF health articles. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (R. Pitman)