IACPV RESEARCH

Posted By Clod on February 10, 2012

Americans are getting fatter. The number of overweight and obese Americans have increased dramatically over the last century, with 55 percent of the population now considered overweight. Researchers believe that current food trends may be one of the causes of the increase in obesity.

In their findings, researchers found that food trends, such as eating out more often, changes in food preparation and the increased availability of convenience foods may be influencing the rise in the number of obese Americans. Researchers analyzed agricultural, business and medical library databases to find the quantities and types of foods available to Americans from 1970 to 1998 and to analyze American food intake.

They found that Americans are eating out much more often than they did 20 years ago. In 1970, about 20 percent of food money was spent on eating out, but by 1994, the number jumped to 38 percent. In addition, the restaurant industry is growing 3 percent each year, while fast-food restaurants are expanding 7 percent per year.

Researchers also noticed that Americans are spending less time preparing food and are buying more convenience foods. The proportion of foods prepared from scratch dropped from 43 percent in 1987 to 38 percent.

Categories: Diet
Tags: food money, food trends, restaurants