The Body and Social Theory provides a clear, critical analysis of the new sociological literature on the body and an introduction to the most important traditions of thought that have informed social theories of human embodiment. In recent years, contemporary societies have been characterized by a heightened attention to the body, expressed in the changing relation of individual identity to health, sexuality and bodily image. Developments in arenas as diverse as diet, genetic engineering, reproductive technologies, plastic surgery and sports science have made the body increasingly a site of social alternatives and individual choices. The rise of the body in consumer culture as a bearer of symbolic value has been reflected in the emergence of embodiment as a fundamental issue in sociology and related disciplines. Surveying the range of social theories of the body, Chris Shilling offers a comprehensive and innovative assessment of the field. He analyses naturalistic, social constructionist and feminist theories of the body, appraises the fundamental sociological contributions of Pierre Bourdieu and Norbert Elias, and demonstrates the centrality of the body to the traditional concerns of social theory. This broad-ranging book will be invaluable to lecturers and students in the study of the body social theory, health and illness, cultural stories, sports, leisure studies and related areas.