Why have Americans become the fattest people on the face of the planet - and why are Australians not far behind them? Paul Campos believes that the media, and the weight loss industry, have combined to misinform the public about the actual facts behind weight loss and that the myth of the 'ideal' weight is driving people to obsess about their failure to become thin. Whilst the author concedes that more than 65% of Americans are overweight, he argues that a slightly heavier but active person is much healthier than a thin but sedentary person. The author also believes that the hysteria surrounding weight loss - and the hype surrounding the Hollywood super thin - is having a truly adverse affect on the health of the Western world.