Essay on Doctor: Nutrition and Food Choices

Submitted By johnman123432
Words: 2670
Pages: 11
Open Document
Symposium: Sugar and Fat—From Genes to Culture
Pricing Effects on Food Choices1,2
Simone A. French3
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015

KEY WORDS:

●

price

●

food choice

●

nutrition intervention

The prevalence of obesity and overweight has increased dramatically over the past two decades (1– 4). The current obesity epidemic is caused by an environment that promotes excessive food intake and discourages physical activity (5,6).
Environmental influences on eating behavior include the changing nature of the food supply, increased reliance on foods away from home, food advertising, marketing and promotion and food pricing (5). The role of fats and sugar in the food supply and dietary intake trends is discussed elsewhere (7).
The present report focuses on food marketing practices and pricing strategies.

●

eating behavior

they are eaten. Foods at home are those purchased at a retail store, a grocery store, a convenience store or a supermarket and prepared for home consumption (8). Foods away from home include those obtained from fast food establishments, schools, restaurants, other public places and vending machines. Away from home foods are typically ready-to-eat and consumed “as is,” and the consumer has less control over portion size and nutritional content (8).
It is well documented that portion sizes for foods purchased at fast food places and restaurants have increased sharply over the past two decades (9). Prepackaged foods purchased in grocery and convenience stores are also being marketed in larger sizes (5,10). For example, in the 1950s, Coca-Cola was marketed in 6.5-oz single-serving bottles. The 12-oz can became the single-serving soft drink size in the 1970s. In 2000 the 20-oz bottle was the typical single-serving size, a 250% increase from the 1950s. Fast food restaurants market supersized sandwiches such as the Big Mac (216 g; 570 kcal); supersized French fries (198 g; 610 kcal) and 42-oz soft drinks
(11). Candy bars and potato chips that used to be prepackaged in 1-oz servings are now marketed in 2- to 3-oz single-serving packages (10). Bagels and muffins that used to be 2 to 3 oz are now typically 4 to 7 oz (10).
Larger packages and larger serving sizes may encourage greater consumption at any one meal or eating episode through a variety of physiological or cognitive mechanisms
(12). People may underestimate their intake as they purchase larger packages or are offered larger servings at restaurants.
Experimental research shows that larger packages of familiar

Foods away from home
Foods away from home captured 40% of total food spending in 1995 (8). “Home” and “away from home” foods are defined based on where the foods are obtained, as opposed to where

1
Presented as part of the symposium “Sugar and Fat—From Genes to
Culture,” given at the Experimental Biology ’02 meeting in New Orleans, LA, April
23, 2002. This symposium was sponsored by the American Society for Nutritional
Sciences and was supported in part by educational grants from ILSI North
America and ILSI Research Foundation. Guest editors for this symposium publication were Adam Drewnowski, Center for Public Health Nutrition, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA, and Allen Levine, Minnesota Obesity Center, Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2
This research was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of
Health R01 HL56577 with supplemental funding from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
3
To whom correspondence should be addressed.
E-mail: french@epi.umn.edu.

0022-3166/03 $3.00 © 2003 American Society for Nutritional Sciences.

841S

Downloaded from jn.nutrition.org at BOSTON COLLEGE on April 15, 2014

ABSTRACT Individual dietary choices are primarily influenced by such considerations as taste, cost, convenience and nutritional value of foods. The current
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Doctor: Nutrition and Food Choices

Forks Over Knives: Self Analysis

that my choice in nutrition and activity levels plays a huge part in my overall health. Based on that I have decided to chose what I eat and drink carefully as wall as add activities to my everyday schedule. As I learn more about the impact of my choices on my health I have decided to educate myself about various health promoting principles, theories and research that will help me improve my health. After watching the movie Forks over Knives, I have started eating more plant based foods and cutting…

Words 676 - Pages 3

Good Nutrition Essay example

Good Nutrition Nourishment, or aliment, is the foods required by organisms and cells to stay alive. Nutrition is the practice of consuming the appropriate foods. Nutrition also focuses on how diseases, conditions and problems can be prevented or stabilized with a healthy diet. Nutrition involves identifying how certain diseases, condition or problems maybe caused by dietary factors, such as poor diet. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables play a significant role in human nutrition especially when it…

Words 386 - Pages 2

The taste of healthy eating Essay

comes to food. For many years, the medical professionals have reported about the positive effects of a healthy and balanced diet. They have been instrumental in bringing nutritional education into the schools, on the news, and to the public in general. Despite these facts, many people do not eat a healthy diet. Knowing what healthy diets are is the one step to becoming smarter about what the body needs for survival. Another step is knowing how to look up the nutritional values of your food. The other…

Words 1511 - Pages 7

Essay on Childhood obesity

than one third of the children and adolescents in the United States are considered overweight or obese. Since 1980 the number of obese children and adolescents has almost tripled. Genetics, parenting habits and poor lifestyles, particularly poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are significant factors that have lead to childhood obesity. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention article on Obesity and Genetics, Parenting Style and Childhood Obesity by Katie Hurley LCSW, and the Children’s…

Words 1508 - Pages 7

Forks over Knives Essay

healthy. In the beginning of the movie, a quote by ancient doctor Hippocrates was read and shown for everyone to read. The quote was, “Let food be thy medicine” (Hippocrates). A person with no health knowledge might think that this quote is crazy because they live in a society where food is thought to only do the body harm. It is true that food can be one’s body’s worst enemy (Gillette). However, if you look at the right types of food, it can be the best thing you can do for your body (Gillette)…

Words 914 - Pages 4

Social Class and Health Issues Essay

demographic groups differs despite comparative access to health care services. In the article “Who Gets Sick in America-and Why” by Ranit Mishori and the video Food, Inc by Dir. Robert Kenner emphasizes how a person's social class has a significant impact on their physical health, their ability to receive adequate medical care and nutrition, and their life expectancy. Minority’s face higher rates of diseases and illnesses compared to higher social classes. According to Mishori, the lifestyle advice…

Words 1254 - Pages 6

The Importance Of Food Abuse

THE NEED TO START SOMEWHERE MICHELLE BRODBENT KAPLAN UNIVERSITY Professor Russ III CM220-20 October 27, 2014 THE NEED TO START SOMEWHERE While the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) program seems to be helping millions of poverty homes put food on the table, it has created a downside and has room for improvement. As studies have proven, poverty stricken and the SNAP program has been linked to the increase in obesity and has caused health care prices to rise. Research conducted…

Words 2784 - Pages 12

Obesity Epidemic Analysis

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a health and nutrition survey, the results of which were published in 2012. The CDC determined that 67.6 million Americans were obese and 65.2 million as overweight, based on the body mass index scale. The results show that for the first time that there are more obese than overweight citizens in the country. Societal innovations to having large eating portions as a part of our culture has lead to massive increases in obesity in American…

Words 1582 - Pages 7

Spina Bifida Literature Review

testing, prenatal surgery, ongoing care, and the prospects of prenatal surgery. When describing the factors associated with spina bifida, the article noted the role of genetics, gene mutations, hormones, and maternal nutrition which particularly includes “the enrichment of staple foods with folic acid” (Sikander et al., 2017). During pregnancy, an increase in folic acid has been found to correlate with a decrease in the incidence of spina bifida, as well as other neural tube defects. Prenatal tests…

Words 497 - Pages 2

Nutrition and Healthy Diet Essay

Male Nutrition Males of all ages can benefit from eating a balanced and varied diet, getting enough calcium, avoiding high fat and sugar content, drinking six 8-ounce glasses of water, and exercising daily. However, if you are worried about your personal nutrition or weight, talk with your doctor about your concerns. There are many diets and supplements that can be dangerous to your health. Your doctor can discuss a diet that is right for you Men Need Nine a Day Although everyone is…

Words 1021 - Pages 5