![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Ever-Expanding American Waistline
Oct. 26th, 2009 09:19 amI mentioned last week that I'm trying to get my weight down and generally get healthy. In the comments of that post, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jeff_duntemann mentioned his theory that high-fructose corn syrup is part of the American weight problem. Basically, he's seen research to suggest that fructose is metabolized differently then sucrose (AKA "regular sugar") and the results can be seen wrapped around our waists.
I haven't seen the research, so I am agnostic on that idea. (Literally, since "agnostic" means "no knowledge" in Greek.) I am, however, reasonably sure that food manufacturers have added sugar to all kinds of stuff. Look, for example, at a bottle of ketchup, and you will see fructose as the third ingredient. Since food ingredients are listed in order from most to least, that suggests a lot of sugar is lurking in your ketchup. Or, look closely at bottled fruit juice. Most varieties have added fructose. In short, part of the fructose problem is that it's added to practically any processed food you care to look at.
I actually don't consume a lot of sugared products - for example, I don't drink fruit juice with breakfast any more. I am convinced, however, that I eat too much food for my (lack of) activity level. Thus, part of the "take a walk, lard-butt!" program is to increase activity levels. The other part of my program is to reduce the amount of calories consumed, and the easiest way to do that is reduce intake - especially of low value-added foods like fries.
Looking at the broader picture, there is another reason that Americans are getting broader in the beam, so to speak. That would be portion size (via John Scalzi). The lead example at the link is of pizza-by-the-slice. From the 1970s to now, the size of the slices is bigger. Or, consider the Big Mac. When it came out, it was considered, well, big. Now, with two 1.6 ounce beef patties (3.2 ounces, or just under a 1/4 pound, for those keeping score at home) it is considered a standard serving.
In short, there are a lot of reasons we're getting heavier. None of them are particularly good.
jeff_duntemann mentioned his theory that high-fructose corn syrup is part of the American weight problem. Basically, he's seen research to suggest that fructose is metabolized differently then sucrose (AKA "regular sugar") and the results can be seen wrapped around our waists.I haven't seen the research, so I am agnostic on that idea. (Literally, since "agnostic" means "no knowledge" in Greek.) I am, however, reasonably sure that food manufacturers have added sugar to all kinds of stuff. Look, for example, at a bottle of ketchup, and you will see fructose as the third ingredient. Since food ingredients are listed in order from most to least, that suggests a lot of sugar is lurking in your ketchup. Or, look closely at bottled fruit juice. Most varieties have added fructose. In short, part of the fructose problem is that it's added to practically any processed food you care to look at.
I actually don't consume a lot of sugared products - for example, I don't drink fruit juice with breakfast any more. I am convinced, however, that I eat too much food for my (lack of) activity level. Thus, part of the "take a walk, lard-butt!" program is to increase activity levels. The other part of my program is to reduce the amount of calories consumed, and the easiest way to do that is reduce intake - especially of low value-added foods like fries.
Looking at the broader picture, there is another reason that Americans are getting broader in the beam, so to speak. That would be portion size (via John Scalzi). The lead example at the link is of pizza-by-the-slice. From the 1970s to now, the size of the slices is bigger. Or, consider the Big Mac. When it came out, it was considered, well, big. Now, with two 1.6 ounce beef patties (3.2 ounces, or just under a 1/4 pound, for those keeping score at home) it is considered a standard serving.
In short, there are a lot of reasons we're getting heavier. None of them are particularly good.
