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South Africa is the dominant force in an area that is of increasing
strategic importance to the West, yet few studies address the
geopolitical pressures that dictate the course of events there.
Analyzing South Africa's base of power, the authors argue that
because South Africa's relationships with other states in Southern
Africa are asymmetrical in nature, the country has substantial
economic and political leverage in the region. Control of Southern
Africa's transport infrastructure and the ability to project a
conventional or surrogate military presence throughout the region,
for example, gives South Africa the power to affect the economic
and political stability of virtually all regional states. Asymmetry
also characterizes relationships at the global level. Because the
West depends upon South Africa for access to the region's strategic
minerals, for the security of the Cape oil route, and for the
country's ability to counterbalance the Soviet presence in Southern
Africa, South Africa exercises considerable influence over the
African foreign policies of the superpowers. Focusing on the major
geopolitical variables affecting South Africa's ability to sustain
power, the authors analyze the economic and geographic factors that
contribute to asymmetrical relationships and examine the pluralism
that divides South African society. Pretoria's successful foreign
policy, which has created a security corridor of new buffer states,
is given particular emphasis. In addition, the authors provide a
detailed analysis of South Africa's minerals-based economy and
discuss the implications for regional stability of economic
sanctions against South Africa. Finally, they outline a policy
framework that takes regional economic, political, and geographic
realities into account.
South Africa is the dominant force in an area that is of increasing
strategic importance to the West, yet few studies address the
geopolitical pressures that dictate the course of events there.
Analyzing South Africa's base of power, the authors argue that
because South Africa's relationships with other states in Southern
Africa are asymmetrical in nature, the country has substantial
economic and political leverage in the region. Control of Southern
Africa's transport infrastructure and the ability to project a
conventional or surrogate military presence throughout the region,
for example, gives South Africa the power to affect the economic
and political stability of virtually all regional states. Asymmetry
also characterizes relationships at the global level. Because the
West depends upon South Africa for access to the region's strategic
minerals, for the security of the Cape oil route, and for the
country's ability to counterbalance the Soviet presence in Southern
Africa, South Africa exercises considerable influence over the
African foreign policies of the superpowers. Focusing on the major
geopolitical variables affecting South Africa's ability to sustain
power, the authors analyze the economic and geographic factors that
contribute to asymmetrical relationships and examine the pluralism
that divides South African society. Pretoria's successful foreign
policy, which has created a security corridor of new buffer states,
is given particular emphasis. In addition, the authors provide a
detailed analysis of South Africa's minerals-based economy and
discuss the implications for regional stability of economic
sanctions against South Africa. Finally, they outline a policy
framework that takes regional economic, political, and geographic
realities into account.
Nearly one out of every three adults in America is obese and tens
of millions of people in the United States are dieting at any one
time. This has resulted in a weight-loss industry worth billions of
dollars a year and growing. What are the long-term results of
weight-loss programs? How can people sort through the many programs
available and select one that is right for them? Weighing the
Options strives to answer these questions. Despite widespread
public concern about weight, few studies have examined the
long-term results of weight-loss programs. One reason that
evaluating obesity management is difficult is that no other
treatment depends so much on an individual's own initiative and
state of mind. Now, a distinguished group of experts assembled by
the Institute of Medicine addresses this compelling issue. Weighing
the Options presents criteria for evaluating treatment programs for
obesity and explores what these criteria mean?to health care
providers, program designers, researchers, and even overweight
people seeking help. In presenting its criteria the authors offer a
wealth of information about weight loss: how obesity is on the
rise, what types of weight-loss programs are available, how to
define obesity, how well we maintain weight loss, and what
approaches and practices appear to be most successful. Information
about weight-loss programs?their clients, staff qualifications,
services, and success rates?necessary to make wise program choices
is discussed in detail. The book examines how client demographics
and characteristics?including health status, knowledge of
weight-loss issues, and attitude toward weight and body
image?affect which programs clients choose, how successful they are
likely to be with their choices, and what this means for outcome
measurement. Short- and long-term safety consequences of weight
loss are discussed as well as clinical assessment of individual
patients. The authors document the health risks of being
overweight, summarizing data indicating that even a small weight
loss reduces the risk of disease and depression and increases
self-esteem. At the same time, weight loss has been associated with
some poor outcomes, and the book discusses the implications for
program evaluation. Prevention can be even more important than
treatment. In Weighing the Options, programs for population groups,
efforts targeted to specific groups at high risk for obesity, and
prevention of further weight gain in obese individuals get special
attention. This book provides detailed guidance on how the
weight-loss industry can improve its programs to help people be
more successful at long-term weight loss. And it provides consumers
with tips on selecting a program that will improve their chances of
permanently losing excess weight. Table of Contents Front Matter
Summary 1 Introduction and Background 2 The Nature and Problem of
Obesity 3 Programs for and Approaches to Treating Obesity 4
Weighing the Options 5 Criterion 1: The Match Between Program and
Consumer 6 Criterion 2: The Soundness and Safety of the Program 7
Criterion 3: Outcomes of the Program 8 Weighing the Options:
Application of Committee's Criteria 9 Prevention of Obesity 10
Research and Policy Recommendations Appendix A: Assessment
Instruments of Relevance to Obesity Treatment Appendix B: The Diet
Readiness Test and the General Well-Being Schedule Appendix C:
Pediatric Obesity Appendix D: Accrediting Providers of
Weight-Management Services Appendix E: Biographies of Committee
Members Bibliography Index
Thanks to increased knowledge about nutrition, many threats to
human health have been curbed. But there is much more to be
learned. This new volume identifies the most promising
opportunities for further progress in basic and clinical research
in the biological sciences, food science and technology, and public
health. The committee identifies cross-cutting themes as frameworks
for investigation and offers a history of nutrition and food
science research with nine case studies of accomplishments. The
core of the volume identifies research opportunities in areas
likely to provide the biggest payoffs in enhancing individual and
public health. The volume highlights the importance of technology
and instrumentation and covers the spectrum from the effects of
neurotransmitters on food selection to the impact of federal food
programs on public health. The book also explores the training of
nutrition and food scientists. This comprehensive resource will be
indispensable to investigators, administrators, and funding
decisionmakers in government and industry as well as faculty,
students, and interested individuals. Table of Contents FRONT
MATTER SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1 INTRODUCTION 2 ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN
THE NUTRITION AND FOOD SCIENCES 3 UNDERSTANDING GENETIC, MOLECULAR,
CELLULAR, AND PHSYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES 4 ENHANCING THE FOOD SUPPLY
5 UNDERSTANDING DIET, HEALTH, AND DISEASE RELATIONSHIPS 6 IMPROVING
THE DIET AND HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS AND POPULATIONS 7 EDUCATION AND
TRAINING IN THE NUTRITION AND FOOD SCIENCES 8 SUPPORT OF THE
NUTRITION AND FOOD SCIENCES SOURCES AND SUGGESTED READING APPENDIX
A ACRONYMS APPENDIX B CONTRIBUTORS TO THE REPORT APPENDIX C
BIOGRAPHIES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF INDEX
Results from the National Research Council's (NRC) landmark study
Diet and health are readily accessible to nonscientists in this
friendly, easy-to-read guide. Readers will find the heart of the
book in the first chapter: the Food and Nutrition Board's
nine-point dietary plan to reduce the risk of diet-related chronic
illness. The nine points are presented as sensible guidelines that
are easy to follow on a daily basis, without complicated measuring
or calculating?and without sacrificing favorite foods. Eat for Life
gives practical recommendations on foods to eat and in a "how-to"
section provides tips on shopping (how to read food labels),
cooking (how to turn a high-fat dish into a low-fat one), and
eating out (how to read a menu with nutrition in mind). The volume
explains what protein, fiber, cholesterol, and fats are and what
foods contain them, and tells readers how to reduce their risk of
chronic disease by modifying the types of food they eat. Each
chronic disease is clearly defined, with information provided on
its prevalence in the United States. Written for everyone concerned
about how they can influence their health by what they eat, Eat for
Life offers potentially lifesaving information in an understandable
and persuasive way. Alternative Selection, Quality Paperback Book
Club Table of Contents Front Matter 1 Introduction 2 Guidelines for
a New Eating Pattern 3 The Food We Eat 4 Diet and Chronic Disease
in the United States 5 Calories, Energy Balance, and Chronic
Diseases 6 Fats, Cholesterol, and Chronic Diseases 7 Protein,
Carbohydrates, and Chronic Diseases 8 Vitamins, Minerals, and
Chronic Diseases 9 Alcohol, Other Food Substances, and Chronic
Diseases 10 Making the Change to the New Eating Pattern Appendixes
Index
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