22-2 |
The Supersizing of America: Growing food portions parallels the obesity epidemic |
L. R. YOUNG, Dept. of Nutrition & Food Studies, New York Univ., 401 E. 88 St., #10-E, New York, NY 10128 Obesity is a major health problem in the U.S. and its prevalence is increasing. One reason for the increase in obesity may be that people are eating larger food portions and, therefore, more calories. This research determined current portion sizes of foods that are major contributors of calories in U.S. diets and sold for immediate consumption, and determined changes in these sizes. Such foods include baked goods, beverages, hamburgers, steaks, chocolate, and pizza. This research also compared the sizes of these foods to standard sizes developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for dietary guidance and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food labels. Portion sizes were obtained from manufacturers or measured directly. Changes in portion sizes were obtained from manufacturers, trade publications, newspapers, advertisements, and menus. This research demonstrated that portion sizes increased over time. Many food portions today are two-to-five times larger than their original sizes. The trend toward super-sizing food portions began in the 1970s, increased sharply in the 1980s, and has continued, paralleling the increasing prevalence of overweight in the U.S. This research also demonstrated that current portion sizes exceeded federal standard serving sizes by at least a factor of two and sometimes by eight-fold. Portion size affects caloric balance. To prevent obesity rates from escalating further and to help overweight individuals lose weight, educational strategies should emphasize the relationship between portion sizes, energy intake, and weight management.
Session 22, The politics of obesity
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