Obesity is a global public health problem of crucial importance. Obesity rates remain high in high-income countries and are rapidly increasing in low- and middle- income countries. Concurrently, the global consumption of unhealthy products, such as soft drinks and processed foods, continues to rise. The ongoing expansion of multinational food and beverage companies, or 'Big Food', is a key factor behind these trends. This collection provides critical insight into the global expansion of 'Big Food', including its incursion into low-and-middle income countries. It examines the changing dynamics of the global food supply, and discusses how low-income countries can alter the 'Big Food'-diet from the bottom-up. It examines a number of issues related to 'Big Food' marketing strategies, including the way in which they advertise to youths and the rural poor. These issues are discussed in terms of their public health implications, and their relation to public health activities, for example 'soda taxes', and the promotion of nutritionally-healthier products. This book was originally published as a special issue of Critical Public Health.

[This text] is a debate-style reader designed to introduce students to controversies in nutrition and health. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading nutritionists and health experts, reflect a variety of viewpoints and have been selected for their liveliness and substance and because of their value in a debate framework. For each issue, the editors provide a concise introduction and postscript summary. The introduction sets the stage for the debate as it is argued in the "yes" and "no" readings, and the postscript briefly reviews the opposing views and suggests additional readings on the controversial issue under discussion. -Back cover.