The portion of the U.S. population that is overweight or obese keeps growing larger – literally – and some experts say the “food environment” is a reason, says Vox, citing Scott Kahan, director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness. “[I]n America,” says Kahan, “the unhealtiest foods are the tastiest foods, the cheapest foods, the largest-portion foods, the most available foods and the most fun foods.”
Vox uses seven charts to explain reasons for caloric overload. They range from eating more, and higher-calorie, meals at restaurants; vastly larger serving sizes at restaurants; high per-capita consumption of sugary carbonated beverages; the comparative lower cost per calorie for fatty, sugary foods compared to fruits and vegetables; eating vegetables that tend to be accompanied by too much salt, fat and sugar; eating breakfasts loaded with sugar and calories; and being bombarded by advertising that encourages over-eating.
Health officials are trying a variety of approaches to encourage healthier eating, says Vox. They include soda taxes, more attractive pricing of fruits and vegetables, public education programs on healthy diets, and encouraging foodmakers to trim salt, fat and sugar from their products.