Here, Wm. Alex McIntosh analyzes the relationship between food and
nutrition and social factors, using a wide array of sociological
theories. The author applies theories of social organization, culture,
social stratification, social change, rural sociology, the sociology of
the body, and social problems to empirical problems in food and
nutrition. By doing so, he sheds light on issues such as the rise of the
state; population growth; famine; obesity; eating disorders; the
maldistribution of food across class, gender, and ethnic boundaries; and
the changing nature of the food industry.