Mismatch: Why Our World No Longer Fits Our Bodies

by Peter Gluckman, Mark Hanson

Our bodies and body processes evolved to allow our ancestors the best chance of survival as hunter-gatherers in the Savannah. Our brains, on the other hand, have evolved intelligence, imagination, and foresight, allowing us to leave all other creatures behind, and develop complex societies, cultures, and lifestyles, far removed from those of our ancestors.

The development of a modern human in utero still reflects our past, and we have created a modern, artificial world that is out of tune with our evolved bodies. Could it be that this mismatch has led to the current deadly explosion in 'lifestyle' diseases such as diabetes and obesity, and will it lead to increasingly frequent epidemics? We appear unable to evolve out of this problem, and unwilling to return to a different way of life, so how can we understand and address this increasingly crucial challenge?

Gluckman and Hanson set out the case, examining issues that are at times controversial and speculative. Utilizing the latest research in epigenetics (that genes may be environmentally modified), they propose that intervention in early human development, alongside a better focus on the health of potential mothers, can make future generations better suited to the modern world.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Health, Evolution, Social Science, Anthropology

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2006

About the author

Sir Peter Gluckman is University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Science in Policy, Diplomacy and Society at the University of Auckland and Chief Scientific Officer for the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences. He is president of the International Network for Government Science Advice. He was the chief science advisor to the prime minister of New Zealand from 2009 to 2018.

Reviews

[Maher Razouk · Rating 4 out of 5]

نتيجة للتغيرات الرئيسية في بيئتنا ، هناك الآن عدد أكبر من الناس في جميع أنحاء العالم يعانون من آثار زيادة الوزن أو السمنة ، مقارنة بنقص التغذية ، على الرغم من الفقر المدقع في أفريقيا جنوب الصحراء وأجزاء من آسيا. في العقود القليلة الماضية ، كان هناك ارتفاع هائل في العديد من البلدان في حدوث ما يسمى بأمراض "نمط الحياة" وخاصة أمراض القلب والأوعية الدموية والسمنة ومرض السكري عند البالغين. حدثت هذه الزيادة جزئيًا بسبب إطالة أعمارنا ، لأن هذه تعتبر عمومًا أمراض منتصف العمر وكبار السن. لكننا الآن نشهد ارتفاعًا سريعًا في مستويات السمنة حتى عند الأطفال الذين تقل أعمارهم عن 3 سنوات ، في العقدين الثاني والثالث من الحياة.

تُعزى هذه التغييرات في جزء كبير منها إلى نوع جديد من نمط الحياة: تمارين أقل والمزيد من الطعام عالي الطاقة. زاد متوسط ​​وزن الأمريكيين الشماليين بمقدار 4.5 كجم خلال التسعينيات - وتشير التقديرات إلى أن هذا كلف شركات الطيران 1600 مليون لتر إضافي من وقود الطائرات لنقلهم خلال عام 2000. الإصرار على أن الراكب الكبير الحجم يجب أن يشتري مقعدين. طلب متاجر الملابس الآن مجموعة أحجام مختلفة جدًا من الملابس عما كانت عليه قبل عقد من الزمن. حتى معايير مقاعد المراحيض يتم تنقيحها للتعامل مع الأشخاص الأثقل وزنًا . في الدول الغربية ، يصنف الآن أكثر من 20 في المائة من البالغين على أنهم يعانون من السمنة المفرطة.

ارتفع معدل انتشار الأطفال الذين يعانون من زيادة الوزن من 8 في المائة إلى 20 في المائة في المملكة المتحدة بين عامي 1984 و 1998. وحتى في بلد يمر بمرحلة انتقالية بيئية مثل الهند ، يمكن تصنيف 10 في المائة من أطفال الطبقة المتوسطة في المناطق الحضرية على أنهم يعانون من السمنة، أو زيادة الوزن.
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Peter Gluckman, Mark Hanson
Mismatch
Translated by #Maher_Razouk

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't what I was hoping for. It reads like a collection of different case studies and the authors don't attempt to make a broad message until the last few pages. I really wanted them to bring it all together and I felt like they failed at that task. It's like a long research paper with plentiful evidence but no discussion or conclusion sections.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read and good look on how our genetics and environment work together to influence evolution. A bit disheartening at times, but definitely gives you something to think about.

[Muriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book review for other readers.

(Just a nostalgic note for myself.

Together with other books like Fetal Matrix, book like Mismatch formed an important foundation for my grad school research. I remember my surprise about the body of research when reading these books for the first time, the ideas have long since been internalized. I miss my affiliation with research libraries where these books are available. Public libraries are not getting these books. )

[Babeth (Aria) Vink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stuff fascinates me endlessly. Despite it being published 20 years ago and some info being somewhat outdated, a lot of the information is still very relevant and true. Definitely worth a read.

[Friend of the Talking Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the Sherpas in the rarefied-air iodine-deprived foothills of the Himalayas, citizens of developed-world countries live in an environment that is poorly suited to human nature. Zoo animals often live much longer than wild animals; we live in the zoo of our own creation, so a great many more people live to be old than was the case during almost all of human history. The mismatch between biological puberty and social maturity has never been greater. This is all true, but something like 5 million people were alive during the Paleolithic, as opposed to today's 6 billion. Those wishing to return to the Paleolithic are welcome to toss a coin 10 times; if they toss fewer than 10 straight heads, they should fling themselves against the wall.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the field of Evolutionary Medicine from a non-technical perspective. For anyone with a good knowledge of human evolution, the middle of the book can be tiring as it overviews the fossil record - but the application of evolutionary principles of human biology and health are highly thought-provoking; should be required reading for medical doctors.

[Peym]

Developmental biology with a little speculative comment on evolution.
Nothing on mismatch, shallow content

Attacking sociobiology without any specific argument

[Jason Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and new science book that certainly taught me a lot about current biology.

[Arianna Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freakin science is awesome.