Lindeberg on Obesity

I am currently reading Dr Staffan Lindeberg Food magnum works and Western diseases, recently published in English for the first time. Dr. Lindeberg is one of the world's leading experts on health and diet of non-industrial cultures, particularly in Papua New Guinea. This book contains references to 2034. It is also full of quotable statement. Here is what he said about obesity:

Middle age spread is a common phenomenon - assuming you live in the West. Few people are able waist [young] them to maintain after the age of 50 years. Usual explanation - lack of exercise and overeating - not fully consider the situation among the traditional population. People like this are not usually physically active as you can imagine, and they mostly eat large amounts of food.

Obesity is very rare in hunter-gatherers and other traditional cultures [18 references]. The simple fact is clear to all foreign visitors ...

Kitava study measured height, weight, waist circumference, subcutaneous fat thickness at the back of the upper arm (triceps skinfold) and upper arm with a circumference of 272 people aged 4-86 years. Overweight and obesity were absent and the mean [body mass index] is low in all age groups. ... There is no greater than around the waist around their hips.

... Circumference of the arm [usually shows muscle] Kitava only be reduced to negligible [compared with Sweden], shows that there is no malnutrition. It is clear from our study that the lack of food is an unknown concept, and that the surplus of fruit and vegetables regularly to rot or be eaten by dogs.

Kitava population occupies a unique position in the world in terms negligible effect that the Western lifestyle has been on the island.

The fat just Kitavans Dr Lindeberg found were two people who have several years of living outside the island, lifestyle, modern city, and returned Kitava for a visit.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an academic interest in health and nutrition, and something of a background in science and medicine. This is a very good position, so much more valuable.