Illness, Identity, and Taboo among Australian Paleo Dieters

Description

This book explores the cultural and economic conditions fuelling the popularity of the polarizing Paleo diet in Australia. Based on ethnographic research in Melbourne and Sydney, Catie Gressier recounts the compelling narratives of individuals struggling with illness and weight issues. She argues that ‘going Paleo’ provides a sense of agency and means of resistance to the neoliberal policies and practices underpinning the growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases. From its nostalgic constructions of the past, to the rise of anti-elite sentiments inherent in new forms of health populism, Gressier provides a nuanced understanding of the Paleo diet’s contemporary appeal. Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Identity and Taboo Among Paleo Dieters (Catie Gressier)....Pages 1-30 Beleaguered Bodies: Illness and Obesity in Neoliberal Australia (Catie Gressier)....Pages 31-66 Narratives of Paleo Redemption: Agency, Resistance and the Rise of Health Populism (Catie Gressier)....Pages 67-97 The Promise and Pitfalls of Paleo (Catie Gressier)....Pages 99-128 Back Matter ....Pages 129-136