Mismatch

Subtitled 'why are our world no longer fits our bodies', this book addresses one of the most important issues of our time. As the authors put it, 'our evolution designed us for a world very different from that which we have constructed for ourselves.' They bring a range of disciplines to bear on their argument: evolutionary biology, developmental sciences, medicine, anthropology and ecology. The symptoms of the problem of mismatch or maladaptation appear as obesity, diabetes and other health challenges. Their understanding of nutrition is somewhat compromised by their mechanistic approach to energy and what they call the 'human engine'. The phrase 'metabolic mismatch' is a useful one, however, as is the overall mismatch paradigm, which gives us the new vocabulary to understand our predicament. It is also encouraging to see an emphasis on epigenetics rather than genetic determinism. A good deal of this mismatch can be overcome a judicious choice of diet and lifestyle factors. The way forward for the authors is expressed more in terms of further research than individual responsibility, but surely both factors have a role to play.