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THE COM DIET & SPOT REDUCTION by Massimo Spattini

THE COM DIET & SPOT REDUCTION

by Massimo Spattini

Pub Date: Nov. 13th, 2014
ISBN: 978-1502785527
Publisher: CreateSpace

According to this book by Italian nutritionist Spattini (Anti-aging e lo stile di vita integrato, 2013, etc.), it may be time to thin out some long-standing ideas about fat loss.

This work provides a wide overview of the author’s research, which aims to demonstrate that so-called “spot” training—targeted physical activity to reduce fat and increase strength in a particular area of the body—is successful and feasible. Although this claim runs contrary to prevailing wisdom on the physiology of exercise, Spattini provides compelling reasons to reevaluate it. He grounds his ideas in a philosophy of medicine that focuses on the dietary, environmental and physical factors of specific body types and metabolisms—an approach he traces back to Hippocrates. His book claims to show how one can achieve localized and overall fat loss, paying specific attention to the interaction between nutrition and the nervous, endocrinal and enzymatic systems. Detailed diagrams and explanations show how the body produces hormones, how they interact, and how they affect a person’s overall health. This, in turn, provides the groundwork for Spattini’s unique COM diet, which also emphasizes chronobiology (which “studies the rhythmic variations of biological phenomena over the course of time”) and morphology. The book includes chapters on strength training for different body types; they also provide specialized dietary information, in keeping with the book’s integrated approach to health. Other chapters touch on mental health concerns in relation to these regimens. The author’s most novel contribution, however, is his articulation and defense of spot-training practices, including a careful survey of the relevant literature. The book also offers articles regarding spot reduction from authors Lorenzo Pansini, Chiara Caliaro and Paolo Luzi. Technical but clear enough for the educated layperson, it’s a useful starting point for learning just how the body stores and expends fat.

A comprehensive, original contribution to a burgeoning field of physiological research.