Woman's Hour's Jenni Murray writes 'deeply personal memoir' on weight for Transworld

Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray is publishing a book called Fat Cow, Fat Chance with Transworld, investigating the science, social history and psychology of women and weight.

Using her own struggles with her weight as a prism through which to explore the issue, the book talks about how she took back control when she dropped eight stone by opting for surgery, addresses "what it’s like to be fat when society dictates that skinny is the way to be" and questions assumptions that going on a diet is the answer.

As well as touching on "the trap of the diet industry", it looks at why we overeat, why only some of us get fat and others do not, fat shaming, and the consequences of the obesity epidemic on an already overstretched NHS. "Politics, science and personal pain – all included in this book about the battle with obesity," promised Murray.

Andrea Henry, editorial director at Transworld, secured UK and Commonwealth rights through the Barbara Levy Literary Agency, calling Fat Cow, Fat Chance a "blend of deeply personal memoir, polemic and reportage" destined to be "required reading".

It will be published in Doubleday hardback in April 2020.