The food supply has changed dramatically over the past 40 years. Foods available for consumption increased in all major food categories from 1970 to 2008. Average daily calories available per person in the marketplace increased approximately 600 calories, with the greatest increases in the availability of added fats and oils, grains, milk and milk products, and caloric sweeteners. Many portion sizes offered for sale also have increased. Research has shown that when larger portion sizes are served, people tend to consume more calories. In addition, strong evidence shows that portion size is associated with body weight, such that being served and consuming smaller portions is associated with weight loss.
If the increase was 600 cal per day then every 6 days you would gain a pound assuming that in 1971 you were balanced. The portion size is truly a significant factor. When I first had my Czech partners over here I took them out to a restaurant, some chain type, in Framingham, and the wife and daughter looked at me in almost terror as they saw the size of the plate and portion. It was colossal. That was ten years ago. In Prague at lunch we had a small plate of food, smaller than a US pie plate and the beer was 6 oz of beer. I never really drink beer so I passed on that. The issue is portion size, and people eating it all. Supersize is the real problem. From 8 oz cokes in glass bottles to 32 oz cokes in big gulp jugs the calories just add up.
The report is interesting but the problem is really what is being served. One should remember that in WW II the average male weight was 135 pounds. Try and find a normal 18 year old even close.
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