Due to changes in
society's behaviors and eating habits, combined with the increased intake of
high calorie foods, sugars, fats, and oils, which are commonly found in fast
foods, there is more energy taken in from the diet than is used up by the body,
resulting in overweight. "Since the early 1980s, increases in the portion sizes
of foods commonly eaten away from home have occurred in parallel with increases
in body weights, and constitute an important contributing factor to rising
rates of obesity". (Young, &
Nestle, 2007). From
my perspective, there are various factors fuelling the growth of this
misfortune. An increase in processed foods and fast-food joints, a decrease in
physical activities for people, and the increase in technology, etc. These
habits allow for a vast amount of weight gain due to lack of nutrition, lack of
physical activity and body movement. I call this the ‘couch potato’ syndrome. This nutritional
excess of fats, sugars/sweetened foods, and high energy foods results in an
increase in weight/obesity/fatness.
It seems that over the last few decades more high calorie foods are
being offered or are available to
people. With food portions continually increasing, portion sizes are much
larger and people seem to consume larger portions of food over the last few
decades."Portion sizes offered by
fast-food chains are often two to five times larger than when first
introduced". (Young, & Nestle, 2007). After an analysis of Figure 2-11 U. S. Trend Toward Colossal Cuisine, portion
sizes have doubled and in some of the foods, the portion sizes have even
tripled over the last few decades. For example, "pasta was 1 c, 200 cal in the 1970s, and today's colossal show pasta
portions at 2-3 c, 600 cal". (Sizer, & Whitney, 2012. p.
49).
Many factors have contributed to
food portion sizes increasing so significantly. The ability to get the most out
of the money spent and the increase in
sizes of serving containers have significantly increased. In an effort to compete on the market, fast-food
chains have increased not only their portion sizes, but the sizes of the
serving containers have significantly increased. It seems that when food is served in large
containers, people will consume a lot more. Also because of the different
options of portions sizes presently provide, people are able to choose from a
variety of sizes in comparison to over the last
few decades when there was a standard size.
The promotion and advertisement of fast-foods
, combined with changes in society's economic structure, that is the industrial
revolution, in which society has changed from traditional farming practices to
industrialization. Poverty in some societies have led people to obtain more
food for their money, than buying smaller amounts of healthy/nutritious foods.
People are not aware of where foods come from, and they may also lack the skills/ability to cook. Nutritious/healthy
food is very expensive, while the fatty, and highly sweetened foods such as
pops or sodas are quite cheap, white bread is a lot cheaper than whole wheat
bread. Because of fuel cost, it is much cheaper to cook chips than jacket
potatoes, also the preparation of healthier foods require skills and
facilities, making cooking impractical. "As a result of shopping more carefully to obtain more food for their
money, people in lower socioeconomic groups, are more likely to buy foods with
high levels of fat and sugar." (Underwood, 2007. p. 84).
Obesity leads to emotional problems,
such as low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and clinical depression, as well
as the physical problem of being more prone to infections. Obese people have
been known to be stigmatized by society, and are often taunted by others and
will be unable to participate in vigorous daily activities. Illnesses such as,
arthritis, diabetes, and coronary heart disease, and certain cancers are quite common in people who are suffering
from obesity.
There
are various simple and low cost
tools/techniques people can use to help with portion control; some every-day objects can be used as helpful guidelines when comparing portion
sizes. "Using a deck of cards or the
palm of a woman's hand, one is able to have an idea of what 3 ounces of
meat is. In comparison to the size of a regular (60 watt light-bulb), the size
of 1 medium piece of fruit or potato will be known. 11/2 ounces
of cheese is equivalent to the size of a
9-volt battery.1 ounce lunch meat or cheese is equal to 1 slice. By using the thickness of 280 pages of this
book (pressed together), one is able to determine the similarities in 1
pat (1tsp) of margarine or butter/a
slice from a quarter pound stick of
butter. Also, in an effort to ensure that there is portion control on foods, an
ice-cream scoop can be used to serve mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, vegetables,
cereals, or other foods. (Sizer, &
Whitney, 2012. p. 48).
I particularly like using the palm of a woman's
hand to estimate 3 ounces of meat; this
tool/technique is feasible and accessible, because as a woman, this estimation would require no
extra effort/skills- my hands are ever present.
References
Sizer, F. S & Whitney, E.
N. (2012). Nutrition Concepts &
Controversies (12th. ed. ). Belmont: Wadsworth,
Cengage Learning.
Underwood,
A. (2007). Health and Well-Being in Early
Childhood (Ashford University ed. ) United States of America: McGraw- Hill Learning Solutions
Young, L. R., &
Nestle, M. (2007). Portion sizes and obesity: Responses of fast-food companies. Journal of Public Health
Policy, 28(2), 238-48.
Retrieved June 11, 2013, http://search.proquest.com/docview/233366297?accountid=32521
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