22-6 |
Why are we obese? We eat too much! |
J. S. STERN and A. G. Kazaks. Dept. of Nutrition, Univ. of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., 3150-B Meyer Hall, Davis, CA 95616-8669 As we are exposed to larger quantities of food sold as a single portion, we become victims of "portion distortion." When large sizes are offered, consumers not only eat more but, more importantly, they also get a distorted impression of what a reasonable serving size really is. What is the recent history of portion sizes in the United States? The maximum serving size of fries sold at McDonald's has increased from 210 kcalories in 1955 to 610 kcalories in 2002. To accommodate increased portions the average restaurant plate has increased from ten to twelve inches. Greater increases are seen in the size of soft drinks. In the 1950s, the standard size Coca Cola was less than 210 ml. At many U.S. convenience stores, you can buy a 1920 ml (64 oz) soft drink---that's almost 2 liters. Muffins, bagels and croissants also suffer from portion distortion. One serving of a Cinnabon Pecanbon tips the scales at 890 calories. Even the mini Cinnabons are excessive at 430 calories per mini serving. We have also increased portion sizes when we cook. The traditional "Joy of Cooking" has modified identical recipes from older editions of the cookbook to yield fewer servings. Larger portions are viewed as desirable from the point of view of the consumer and the food industry. For example, profits from food items generally rise when manufacturers increase product size. Increasing food contents in a container costs relatively little compared to labor and other costs. Increased quantity and increased container size are used to entice customers. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Large portions are literally "feeding this epidemic." Does the food industry have a responsibility to help stem the epidemic?Yes! Let's start by not selling any soft drink or sugary juice larger than 12 ounces in vending machines.
Session 22, The politics of obesity
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