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Epidemiology: A Very Short Introduction explains what epidemiology is and its importance to the discovery, control, and prevention of disease in world populations. It looks at health hazards identified by the study of epidemiology — such as the relationship between tobacco smoking and lung cancer and between various aspects of diet, environment, and exercise — and the origin and spread of new epidemics. This VSI dispels some of the myths surrounding the study of epidemiology. It explores the principles behind clinical trials and explains the nature of the basic statistics concerning disease. It also considers the ethical and political issues related to obtaining and using information concerning patients and trials involving placebos.Less

Food: A Very Short Introduction provides a brief history of man's relationship with food, spanning from the time of our remote ancestors 3 million years ago to the present day. Food has been a topic of great interest for humanity across cultures and over generations. Why do some people like some kinds of foods and not others? How do our senses contribute to flavour? How important are genetics in our likes and dislikes? We are all affected by issues such as diet, nutrition, and health; the disparity between malnutrition in some places and overconsumption in others; obesity; sustainable agriculture; and genetic modification. How will it be possible to feed a population of 9 billion in 2050, without destroying our natural environment?Less

HIV/AIDS: A Very Short Introduction provides an introduction to AIDS—the most serious human epidemic in centuries—tackling the science, politics, demographics, and devastating consequences of the disease. The first case was identified in 1981; by 2004 approximately forty million people were living with the disease, and about twenty million had died. The outlook today is a little brighter. Although HIV/AIDS continues to be a pressing public health issue, the epidemic has stabilized. The worst affected regions are Southern and Eastern Africa. Elsewhere, HIV is found in specific, often marginalized populations. Although there remains no cure for HIV, there have been unprecedented breakthroughs in understanding the disease and developing drugs.Less

Nutrition is a topic of wide interest and importance. In spite of a growing understanding of the underlying biochemistry, and health campaigns such as ‘five-a-day’, increasing obesity and reported food allergies and eating disorders, as well as the widely advertised ‘supposed’ benefits of food supplements mean that a clear explanation of the basic principles of a healthy diet are vital. Nutrition: A Very Short Introduction explains the basic elements of food, the balance between energy intake and exercise, the problems of over- and under-nutrition, and raises the question of the safety of nutritional supplements.Less

The 2014 Ebola epidemic demonstrated the power of pandemics and their ability not only to destroy lives locally but also to capture imaginations worldwide. Pandemics: A Very Short Introduction provides a concise yet comprehensive account of pandemics throughout human history, illustrating the ways in which pandemic disease—including plague, tuberculosis, malaria, smallpox, cholera, influenza, and HIV/AIDS—has shaped history and how human history has shaped pandemic disease. By considering the explosion of medical research and the varying state responses, such as quarantine and travel restrictions, this Very Short Introduction shows why pandemics are both interesting from a medical standpoint and provide insight into the culture and politics of their time.Less

Public Health: A Very Short Introduction explores the areas that fall under the remit of public health, and explains how the individual histories of different countries have come to cause great differences in the perception of the role and responsibilities of public health organizations. In its narrowest sense, public health can refer to the health of a population, the longevity of individual members, and their freedom from disease, but it can also be anticipatory, geared to the prevention of illness, rather than simply the provision of care and treatment. Drawing on wide-ranging international examples, this VSI demonstrates the central role of history in understanding the amorphous nature of public health today.Less