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Fighting Globesity - A Practical Guide to Personal Health and Sustainability by Phillip Mills, Dr. Jackie Mills (2007) Paperback
Like an overweight individual, we are, as a race, simply consuming far more than we can healthily maintain. And we have started to discover the inconvenient truth - that in a globalized world some of the resulting woes - atmospheric destruction and global warming, for instance affect us all. We all face a huge challenge to create global sustainability, starting with our own health, fitness and well-being. In this groundbreaking book, global exercise power couple Phillip and Dr Jackie Mills share their success strategies for getting enjoyably active and tactics for weight loss and improving health. And they show you how, starting in your own backyard, you can make a huge contribution to global sustainability in ways that are life-enhancing and fun. Each one of us can make a difference, the Mills argue passionately. This book is full of practical steps you can take - right now. Not tomorrow or when you find more time. Right now. The world can't wait. "This is a really imp
303 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 7, 2020
This book has a story. I've written on the fitness industry and Les Mills throughout my career. I'm currently finishing a book chapter on celebrity 'gurus', health and fitness.
It has been fascinating to dip into the Les Mills well once more. But to do this research and chapter justice, I wanted to read Fighting Globesity. Published in 2007 by Random House New Zealand, it has been tough finding a copy.
I ended up spending $60+ on a copy that has had a bit of an accident with a water bottle. But still - and finally - I have read Phillip and Jackie Mills' book on health and fitness.
And yes - you know where this story is going - it was a major disappointment.
The cover features a young, thin, blond woman sitting on a fitness ball. The ball is painted like the earth. There is the argument right there.
The concept is an important one. Globesity is "a term we use to describe the relationship that currently operates between personal fitness, national health systems and global sustainability.” This is intersting and important. But sustainability is such a politically hot term, much greater attention is required on it than is present in this book.
Then we enter the matter of identity. The book is based on the premise that if an individual can make a decision and summon willpower, then their health matters and body issues will disappear.
Like that young, thin blonde woman on the cover of the book. what is not being talked about is more important than what is. Class is not discussed. Race is not discussed. Unemployment is not discussed. The changes to family structures are not discussed. Housing structures and not discussed. Poverty is not discussed...
So when the time arrives in the book to offer solutions to 'globesity,' they are - hang on to yourself - walking meetings, getting a personal trainer, and playing sports (particularly tennis, golf and skiing). Eating organic food, similarly, is stressed.
These solutions may be valuable with money and time. But most of the population are not in meetings. Most of the population would have to choose between feeding their children and hiring a personal trainer. And most of the population - most of us - will never ski in our entire lives. And we leave golf to Donald Trump. Also, for the obese, carefully chosen first steps are required. Not dreams or aspirational goals. It is necessary to acknowledge the profound courage it takes - in a fat-shaming culture - for a large person to walk down a street or into a gym. Therefore, exercises that are configured for this crucial group to move - to summon a supported movement culture - is pivotal to create social change.
Health is a classed variable. Health is a raced variable. Health is a colonial variable. Health is an aged variable. And yes - health is a gendered variable.
All of us can make different choices. But the parameters of the choices available to individual citizens vary chaotically and widely. Choices are possible when money is available. Choices are possible when the rest of life has some order and meaning.
Until health, fitness and obesity are understood in context, we will continue to abuse people for eating too much and not skiing, without understanding why. This book never addresses the why.
It has been fascinating to dip into the Les Mills well once more. But to do this research and chapter justice, I wanted to read Fighting Globesity. Published in 2007 by Random House New Zealand, it has been tough finding a copy.
I ended up spending $60+ on a copy that has had a bit of an accident with a water bottle. But still - and finally - I have read Phillip and Jackie Mills' book on health and fitness.
And yes - you know where this story is going - it was a major disappointment.
The cover features a young, thin, blond woman sitting on a fitness ball. The ball is painted like the earth. There is the argument right there.
The concept is an important one. Globesity is "a term we use to describe the relationship that currently operates between personal fitness, national health systems and global sustainability.” This is intersting and important. But sustainability is such a politically hot term, much greater attention is required on it than is present in this book.
Then we enter the matter of identity. The book is based on the premise that if an individual can make a decision and summon willpower, then their health matters and body issues will disappear.
Like that young, thin blonde woman on the cover of the book. what is not being talked about is more important than what is. Class is not discussed. Race is not discussed. Unemployment is not discussed. The changes to family structures are not discussed. Housing structures and not discussed. Poverty is not discussed...
So when the time arrives in the book to offer solutions to 'globesity,' they are - hang on to yourself - walking meetings, getting a personal trainer, and playing sports (particularly tennis, golf and skiing). Eating organic food, similarly, is stressed.
These solutions may be valuable with money and time. But most of the population are not in meetings. Most of the population would have to choose between feeding their children and hiring a personal trainer. And most of the population - most of us - will never ski in our entire lives. And we leave golf to Donald Trump. Also, for the obese, carefully chosen first steps are required. Not dreams or aspirational goals. It is necessary to acknowledge the profound courage it takes - in a fat-shaming culture - for a large person to walk down a street or into a gym. Therefore, exercises that are configured for this crucial group to move - to summon a supported movement culture - is pivotal to create social change.
Health is a classed variable. Health is a raced variable. Health is a colonial variable. Health is an aged variable. And yes - health is a gendered variable.
All of us can make different choices. But the parameters of the choices available to individual citizens vary chaotically and widely. Choices are possible when money is available. Choices are possible when the rest of life has some order and meaning.
Until health, fitness and obesity are understood in context, we will continue to abuse people for eating too much and not skiing, without understanding why. This book never addresses the why.
July 20, 2008
Two more authors that takes the simple message of physical fitness and good nutrition and repackage it to sell books. There are a few high-impact paragraphs that challenge the reader to seek a healthy lifestyle as a matter of social responsibility (to decrease cost in our overworked healthcare system) but this call to action could have been a brief magazine article rather than an entire book. Fighting Globesity may be helpful for individuals just starting out on their fitness journey as most advice is very elementary but otherwise, don't waste your time.
August 5, 2016
An amazing text, well written. The text cover's topic which are very relevant to modern lifestyle. Generally speaking, the book cover's sustainable living and personal health.
The author's are well informed about the topic's they write about.
The book rank's in my top health read's.
The author's are well informed about the topic's they write about.
The book rank's in my top health read's.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews