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According to the Centers for Disease Control, 15% of American adults ranging in age from 20 to 74 were obese by 1980. By 2007, the number of adults in that age range who were obese had more than doubled to exceed 30%.

The metrics above were cited in a New York Times article linking the unhealthy weight gains of many American adults with significant increases in the amount of food being eaten in the U.S. The article says that in 1970, “the average American ate about 16.4 pounds of food a week, or 2.3 pounds daily. By 2006, the average intake grew by an additional 1.8 pounds a week.”

The Times article goes on to say, “that's an extra half pound of fat weekly - mostly from oils and shortening. That doesn't count the fat in the extra quarter pound of meat Americans now eat every seven days.”

Compounding the effects of unhealthy diets is the fact that more than 60% of American men and women do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits.

Considering that many Americans have increased the amount of food they eat, refrained from meaningful physical activity, and continue making heavily processed foods full of fat and empty calories a part of their daily diet, it’s sad but not surprising that so many are now suffering ill health.

If you’d like to read the New York Times article cited above go to: The Overflowing American Dinner Plate