All articles tagged with #american diet
A CDC report reveals that Americans derive over 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods, with children consuming even more, raising health concerns due to links with chronic diseases. Despite a slight decline over recent years, experts emphasize the need for better education and reduced marketing to improve dietary habits.
A CDC report reveals that over half of the calories consumed by US children and adults come from ultraprocessed foods, which are linked to various health issues. While there has been some improvement, ultraprocessed foods still dominate the American diet, especially among children, and are often cheaper and more accessible, raising concerns about long-term health impacts and dietary habits.
The article discusses concerns over the high consumption of ultra-processed foods and artificial additives in the US, highlighting health risks, differences with European food standards, and the need for policy changes to promote healthier eating habits, especially around July Fourth celebrations.
Despite similar or even more indulgent foods, Italians are less obese than Americans mainly due to smaller portion sizes, less snacking, and a food environment that discourages constant eating, highlighting that how and when we eat can be more influential than what we eat.
A study at NIH highlights how ultra-processed foods in the American diet contribute to weight gain, metabolic changes, and gut microbiome disruption, raising concerns about their role in chronic diseases and public health issues.
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the quality of the American diet has seen modest improvements over the past two decades, with fewer adults having poor dietary quality. However, significant disparities remain, particularly among marginalized communities. The study highlights increased consumption of healthier foods like nuts, whole grains, and poultry, and decreased intake of refined grains and sugary drinks. Despite some progress, the diet quality gap persists, especially for young adults, women, Hispanic adults, and those with higher education and income levels.
Food brands owned by tobacco companies in the 1980s actively promoted and disseminated hyperpalatable foods, which are loaded with salts, fats, and sugars, to American consumers. These foods provide an enhanced eating experience that is difficult to resist and can lead to overconsumption. While tobacco companies divested from the U.S. food system by the mid-2000s, the prevalence of hyperpalatable foods in the American diet remains high, contributing to obesity and related health issues.
The share of overweight and obese Americans has tripled since the 1980s, with the obesity rate rocketing to 42 percent nationally, according to official data. The shift has been driven by people starting to eat more ultra-processed foods, which are high in fats, sugars and salts but low in vital nutrients. Americans have also started to have more sedentary lifestyles and office-based jobs, while many in rural communities are now living in food deserts. Obesity is linked to a number of conditions including heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and even Alzheimer's.