Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 16, 2004 10:04:37 GMT -5
Junk Food One-Third of Diet
Research has shown that almost one-third of the U.S. diet consists of sugar-filled cans of soda and bags of potato chips.
Even with the rising number of people joining the low-carb craze, a study of 4,700 adults revealed that sodas and sweets, which contain what are known as “empty calories” because of their low nutritional value, were at the top of the list of most calories consumed. Statistics showed that these “empty calories” accounted for almost 25 percent of all the calories eaten by Americans. Salty snacks and fruit juices made up an additional 5 percent.
Some experts have placed the blame for the obesity epidemic on these shocking revelations.
A survey consisted of the collection of interview responses of 4,760 adults. The survey took place over the years 1999 and 2000 and involved questioning the participants on all the foods they had eaten over the past 24 hours.
Results of the study revealed that sweets were the number one calorie consumed followed by hamburgers, pizza and potato chips. The other highly consumed calorie was soda, which made up for 7.1 percent of all the calories consumed.
On the other hand, nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables accounted for 10 percent of the total calories consumed by Americans.
Experts stressed that a significant portion of American diets were severely lacking essential vitamins and minerals and recommended that people focus on the kind of food they ate, not necessarily on eating smaller portions.
Research has shown that almost one-third of the U.S. diet consists of sugar-filled cans of soda and bags of potato chips.
Even with the rising number of people joining the low-carb craze, a study of 4,700 adults revealed that sodas and sweets, which contain what are known as “empty calories” because of their low nutritional value, were at the top of the list of most calories consumed. Statistics showed that these “empty calories” accounted for almost 25 percent of all the calories eaten by Americans. Salty snacks and fruit juices made up an additional 5 percent.
Some experts have placed the blame for the obesity epidemic on these shocking revelations.
A survey consisted of the collection of interview responses of 4,760 adults. The survey took place over the years 1999 and 2000 and involved questioning the participants on all the foods they had eaten over the past 24 hours.
Results of the study revealed that sweets were the number one calorie consumed followed by hamburgers, pizza and potato chips. The other highly consumed calorie was soda, which made up for 7.1 percent of all the calories consumed.
On the other hand, nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables accounted for 10 percent of the total calories consumed by Americans.
Experts stressed that a significant portion of American diets were severely lacking essential vitamins and minerals and recommended that people focus on the kind of food they ate, not necessarily on eating smaller portions.