AMERICANS HAVE BEEN GETTING FATTER for a long time. A recent working paper, "Why Have Americans Become More Obese," by Cutler, Glaeser, and Shapiro has a nice analysis. During about 1900- 1950, American calories consumed actually fell, but people were working in more and more sedentary occupations, and so weight rose. Since then, the main problem has been not reduced physical movement, but-- and here is the author's contribution--- increased snacking. From roughly the 70's to the 90's, people didn't eat many more calories at mealtime (even though there was a shift from home to restaurant dining), but they ate a lot more snacks.

[ http://php.indiana.edu/~erasmuse/w/03.05.31a.htm ]

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