The Changing Body: Health, Nutrition, and Human Development in the Western World since 1700 (New Approaches to Economic and Social History) - Softcover

Floud, Roderick; Fogel, Robert W.; Harris, Bernard; Hong, Sok Chul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521705614 ISBN 13: 9780521705615

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Humans have become much taller and heavier, and experience healthier and longer lives than ever before in human history. However it is only recently that historians, economists, human biologists and demographers have linked the changing size, shape and capability of the human body to economic and demographic change. This fascinating and groundbreaking book presents an accessible introduction to the field of anthropometric history, surveying the causes and consequences of changes in health and mortality, diet and the disease environment in Europe and the United States since 1700. It examines how we define and measure health and nutrition as well as key issues such as whether increased longevity contributes to greater productivity or, instead, imposes burdens on society through the higher costs of healthcare and pensions. The result is a major contribution to economic and social history with important implications for today's developing world and the health trends of the future.

About this title

Book Description:

It is only recently that the changing size, shape and capability of the human body has been linked to economic and demographic change. This groundbreaking book provides an accessible introduction to anthropometric history, surveying the economic causes and consequences of changes in health and mortality, diet and the disease environment.

About the Author:

Sir Roderick Floud is Provost of Gresham College, London. He is editor of The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Britain (Cambridge University Press, 2004) and has published many books on British economic history including Height, Health and History: Nutritional Status in the United Kingdom, 1750-1980 (with Kenneth Wachter and Annabel Gregory, Cambridge University Press, 1990). He is a Research Associate for the National Bureau for Economic Research, and has received a knighthood for services to higher education.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0521705614
• ISBN 13: 9780521705615
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 456