Gweek 011: "Why we get fat"

Gweek is Boing Boing's podcast about comics books, science fiction, games, gadgets, and other neat stuff. In this episode, Mark reviews the psychological thriller Tropic of Night by Michael Gruber, a health book called Why We Get Fat, by Gary Taubes, a comic book called All Nighter, and the Canon S95 digital camera.

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• [PhantomPeanut]

  Good show guys. This is a great addition to the site. Long time reader, rarely comment due to crushing awkwardness. 

  Just started reading All Nighter. Good stuff thus far.

• [ethanhurd]

  Anyone have any idea how to get Gweek to play on Stitcher? When I search for it nothing comes up.

• [iandutton]

   listened to the podcast wish i could say more than speak up but i couldn’t hear you with volume maxed out.  I was able to hear TWiT, NPR podcasts just fine. the Planet Money that was recorded live had about the same problems as yours.  I am not a recording engineer. but i have listened to Radio, Cassettes, … my entire life and can tell if the problem is the volume at my end.

• [anik]

  Hi, I really like your podcast!

  Just about Why We Get Fat – I don’t know anything about it apart from what you’ve said, but whether or not it adds to an understanding of why some people are fat (or skinny), it seems to fall into fear mongering and shaming about body image, and the policing of bodies feminists have been wise to for a while now. Sure, for some people being fat can be a health risk, but using terms like epidemic, and ‘what do about this’ PROBLEM can be a bit demeaning for people who are just fatter than the culturally accepted standard.

  And to people who worry about the ‘drain’ on the health care system, maybe you should worry more about the drain on the health care system that climate change will have, or worry about the funds being poured into the military.

  Maybe, until someone’s body somehow affects others people, experts should butt out…

  Anyway, just wanted to get that perspective out there about fat shaming… i’m sure there’s better ideas on this out there but had to say something, as most of the time these things aren’t said.

  • [kichigaijin]

    Actually, the book goes into, and condemns, the act of fat shaming. It is quite informative on the processes of fattening, the history and the science behind it.

    If anything, read that book and what you will get out of it is that it is not a “Hate the fat” book, but more of a “This is how the body works” with regards to weight gain and loss.

• [dawud helleman]

  obesity is a health risk, to people themselves and others. It’s easily distinguishable from just being fat by whether the person is able to handle daily tasks, such as moving around and taking care of themselves. I think of the Tea Party activists one sees, riding around on Medicare-paid-for carts, while condemning Medicare being provided to others (poor or illegal immigrants, seems to be their worry). If they can’t get up out of the damn chair without help, they’re obese and are more of a problem than the immigrants they complain about. Seriously, pretending that obesity isn’t a problem of wasted food, environmental costs due to extra food production (all those hamburgers require Amazon rainforest, and lots of corn feed) and heating/cooling required, medical costs… are these things value-neutral?

• [DellStreakHacks]

  I’m also interested on how to get Gweek to play on Stitcher? When I search for it nothing comes up either. Anyone else having that issue?

  http://www.convert-youtube-to-mp3.com