Geographies of obesity

Geographies of Obesity was authored by Jamie Pearce and published in 2009 by Ashgate, arriving during a period of burgeoning academic interest in the spatial determinants of health. The text emerged from the growing field of medical geography, which sought to move beyond biological explanations for weight gain by examining how the physical and social environments of neighborhoods influence population-level health outcomes.

The book serves as a foundational synthesis of spatial analysis and public health research. Pearce focuses on the complex interplay between urban planning, food deserts, and sedentary environments, providing a framework for understanding why obesity rates vary significantly across different geographical landscapes. It was well-received within academic circles for its rigorous methodology and its success in bridging the gap between social science and epidemiology, becoming a standard reference for students and researchers exploring the environmental drivers of the global obesity crisis.