Weighing in on the news
Portion Sizes on the Rise
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that portions sizes have increased in restaurants, fast food chains and at home. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill evaluated data from three national surveys to determine trends in portion sizes. The researchers found that in all categories of food (with the exception of pizza), portion sizes increased.
According to the study, portion sizes and calories increased for the following foods: salty snacks increased by 93 calories (from 1.0 ounces to 1.6 ounces), soft drinks by 49 calories (from 13.1 to 19.9 ounces), hamburgers by 97 calories (from 5.7 to 7.0 ounces), french fries by 68 calories (from 3.1 to 3.6 ounces) and Mexican food by 133 calories (6.3 to 8.0 ounces).
The researchers noted, "The most surprising result is the large portion-size increases for food consumed at home - a shift that indicates marked changes in eating behavior in general." Barry M. Popkin, quoted in the journal added, "Clearly the problem is that Americans are eating too much food. The shifts in where we are eating, as well as the types of food and how much, are critical."
FAA to Weigh Passengers
Beginning in March 2003, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will ask passengers flying on commuter airlines to reveal their weight. They are hoping to determine if too much weight from travelers may play a role in the overall lack of safety on commuter flights.
The FAA is allowing airlines to determine whether they will ask each passenger their weight or if they will require them to actually step on a scale. Airlines may add as much to 10 pounds to any "passenger reported" weight as some passengers may underestimate their weight. The FAA believes that too much weight may have played a role in the crash that occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina in January 2003. Twenty-one people were killed in the crash. (CNN, January 23, 2003)
Currently, the FAA assumes that passengers weigh on average 185 pounds (including clothing and carry ons) in the winter. Passengers are assumed to weigh about five pounds less in the summer. Although the FAA believes that the weights on which they base their calculations are still valid, they want to conduct the survey to be certain. In 1994, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average adult man weighed 180.7 pounds. However since 1994, the number of Americans who are overweight and obese has increased. (Associated Press, January 28, 2003)
"Beer Belly" Increases Risk of Clogged Arteries
A new study finds that having a large "pot belly" can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Researchers found that people who carried excess weight around their abdomen and were less sensitive to insulin (a condition known as insulin resistance which can precede diabetes) were more likely to have increased levels of fat and cholesterol in their bloodstream.
Researchers found that those with larger abdomens and more resistance to insulin had lower HDL cholesterol levels (also known as the "good" cholesterol) and higher levels of LDL cholesterol (also known as the "bad" cholesterol).
Dr. Steven E. Kahn of the VA Pudget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, WA, and his team of researchers measured body fat distribution and screened patients (approximately 200) for insulin resistance. The researchers also evaluated the levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood. The patients had an average age of 53, were healthy and had no history of diabetes or heart disease. The research was published in a recent issue of the journal Diabetes. (Reuters Health, January 24, 2003)
Increased waist circumference can be a marker in persons of normal weight for increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Source: Calorie Control Council
