There is an urgent need to better understand the causes and consequences of obesity, and to learn what works to prevent or reduce obesity today. Join John Cawley, professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management, and the Department of Economics, at Cornell University, for a "Chats in the Stacks" talk about his latest book "The Oxford Handbook of the Social Sciences of Obesity" (Oxford University Press, USA; Oct. 2011). The book summarizes the findings and insights of obesity-related research from the full range of social sciences including anthropology, economics, government, psychology, and sociology, and is a critical reference for obesity researchers including public health officials, policymakers, nutritionists, and medical practitioners.

Professor Cawley's book explains how each social science discipline models human behavior (in particular, diet and physical activity), provides important practical information for researchers, and synthesizes social science research on specific causes of obesity, such as food advertising, food prices, and peers. It also lays out the consequences of obesity, such as lower wages, job absenteeism, and discrimination, and reviews literature on obesity treatment and prevention.

A reception and book signing will follow. The "Chats in the Stacks" book talk is funded by the Mary A. Morrison Public Education Fund at Mann Library.