Bigger food portions fuel obesity epidemic
By HME News Staff
Updated Sun July 20, 2003
July 21, 2003
WASHINGTON - Restaurants serving bigger food portions are in part responsible for the rise in obesity in the United States, according to a survey conducted by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), the Washington Post reports.
AICR conducted phone interviews with 1,011 U.S. adults in February and found they "know alarmingly little" about appropriate food portions. Moreover, they didn't consider portion sizes "important to weight management," the Post reports.
The institute also found that 30% of U.S. adults base the amount of food that they eat on the amount of food they are served, the Post reports.
AICR officials said although adults are ultimately responsible for the amount of food they eat, the restaurant industry shares the responsibility for the rise in obesity because they "are distorting what the typical American believes is an appropriate amount to eat," the Post reports.
Restaurant industry officials deny the link between bigger food portions and obesity.
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