Review of 'Body panic: gender, health and the selling of fitness', by Shari L. Dworkin and Faye Linda Wachs: New York and London, New York University Press, 2009, 272 pp., US$22.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-8147-1968-8

Abstract

In 'Body panic: gender, health and the selling of fitness', Shari Dworkin and Faye Linda Wachs analyse the gendered representation of fitness in a number of high profile US fitness/lifestyle magazines between 1998 and 2007. The authors argue that such magazines sell a narrow definition of 'health' to consumers, underpinned by a profit imperative that has a number of social justice implications.