Here is Why America is So Unhealthy

A couple weeks ago the Columbus Dispatch published an article titled, “An Eating Epidemic”, which discussed some of the many reasons why America is so overweight and unhealthy.  Here are some shocking points I pulled from the article:

-  30 years ago the Average American consumed ~2169 calories per day (Source: USDA).  By 2008 that number had reached 2674 calories per day, which is an increase of about 23 percent!

-  Everywhere we turn there is food. Literally.  Think about it; candy dishes at your local doctor’s office or bank, vending machines located in just about all offices everywhere (with maybe one or two healthier choices), unhealthy food at every pharmacy and gas station, food on TV, fast food or other restaurants within walking distance of just about any home, and food available to you at the click of a computer button or dial of a phone number.

Source: iStock Photos

-  Car seats now come with food trays and one or two cup holders.  This is crazy.

-  According to the journal of Health Affairs children snack almost three times a day on non-nutrient dense foods such as chips and candy.  This is on top of their three square meals.

-  American’s concept of serving size is completely skewed. Restaurant sizes have increased significantly, and plate sizes have increased from ten inches wide 60 years ago, to about 12 or 13 inches wide currently (do the math, that’s a 100% increase!) .  Research has shown that a larger plate size can cause a person to eat 20 percent more calories in one sitting.

Source: iStock Photot

-  On the world market you can purchase 19,000 calories worth of sugar for $1.  It’s no wonder our food is full of sugar!

-  Children ages 8-12 view an average of 21 food commercials a day, according to a study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation.  Have you seen the commercials for food that are geared towards children?  They are powerful, and rarely are they advertising healthy foods.

-  When people around us gain wait, so do we. When a person’s spouse becomes obese, that person has a 37% increased chance of becoming obese themselves.

Something needs to be done.  The problem isn’t getting better.  The problem is getting worse.  Let’s be proactive and make a change.

?The Candid RD?, Gina Casagrande, is the Director of Nutrition & Health for Imagination to Burn. She is passionate about empowering people to achieve their wellness goals. Read more of her work on her blog; The Candid RD.

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