Healthy or Unhealthy: American’s habits fluctuate
After commemorating the events of Sept. 11. American eating habits seem to be healthier.
There are still those, however, who are trying to lose an extra 10 pounds or so.
Immediately after Sept. 11, 2001, it seemed as if Americans were turning to unhealthy eating habits. According to a survey from November 2001 by the American Institute for Cancer Research, 20 percent of Americans, which represent about 56 million people, turned to unhealthy behaviors.
“The good news is that [after a new survey conducted in August 2002] the small percentage of Americans who say they are now exercising more often has nearly doubled – from 7 percent in November to 12 percent today,” said Melanie Polk, AIRC’s director of nutrition education.
The survey did not reveal that Americans were eating less, it only implied they are making healthier decisions.
“The increase in healthy behaviors is harder to explain, but I think it’s quite possible that the attacks gave some individuals a sense of their own mortality,” said John P. Foreyt, Ph.D., of the Behavioral Medicine Center at Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine.
“I think what we’re seeing is that many Americans were motivated to make certain positive changes in how they eat and live,” Foreyt said.
According to the survey, about 43 percent of those who said they gained weight following the attacks said they had lost none of that extra weight. Another 37 percent reported losing only some of the weight. Only 18 percent said they had managed to lose most or all of the extra weight.
There are some who would argue on the contrary; Americans are not eating more healthy, but are actually fatter than ever before.
“We’re not necessarily eating more fatty foods; we’re just eating more food. That can lead to more obesity and a whole group of related illnesses,” said Judith Stern, a professor of nutrition with UC Davis, in a report from The World Health Organization.
“Despite the fitness craze and so many popular diets, Americans are fatter than ever. More than half of all adults are overweight and in the next 20 years, the number is expected to increase to a whopping 75 percent,” Stern said.
She said this problem is a result of people losing sight of the proper portion size.
“Portion sizes in most restaurants and throughout grocery stores are geared toward lumberjacks,” Stern said.
Some tips Stern suggests to solve this problem are as follows:
First, look at food labels and measure the serving sizes.
Second, while eating out asking for smaller servings should not be a problem.
Lastly, Stern emphasizes taking control. Parents can control what is bought in the stores and what type and how much of everything the family will eat.
“One in four [adolescents] is overweight … a 20 percent increase over the last decade,” Stern said.
“We have an epidemic of obesity and our kids have caught it,” Stern said.
Having control of one’s individual eating habits is a crucial part of this problem she said.
According to the report, 24 percent of Americans are considered obese, which is defined as having a body mass index of 30 pounds or more.
-klm@cc.usu.edu