What's making us fat?

A critical look at the virus theory, the corn syrup conjecture and other (wishful?) thinking.
By Karen Ravn, Special to The Times
July 14, 2008
» Discuss Article    (92 Comments)

CALL IT Fattergate. Americans are getting scandalously big for their britches (and shirts and skirts and dresses and suits). And scientists would like to know why, so they can make it stop. After all, this sharp trend toward a well-rounded population has some pretty hefty (and heinous) consequences for public health.

There's a simple explanation for the weight gain, of course: People consume more calories than they burn. The favorite explanation: They eat bigger portions of less nutritional foods at easier-to-get-to fast food places, even as they hunker down more and more faithfully in front of their TV and computer screens. "Most of us say it is a combination of reduced energy expenditures plus dietary intake not declining enough," says Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 
    But why does that happen far more often now than 30 years ago? It's not obvious, says Susan Roberts, a senior scientist at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston: "There is definitely no definitive answer on 'what went wrong.' "

    Even as researchers try to refine the eat-too-much-move-too-little theory, some are entertaining other ideas (obesity virus, anyone?). Read on for some of their theories, as well as a weigh-in from our panel of obesity researchers.

    The theories:
    Maybe we're too stressed
    Maybe a virus is to be blamed
    Maybe the temperature is just right
    Maybe it's all that high-fructose corn syrup
    Maybe low-fat foods made us eat more
    Maybe we take too many drugs
    Maybe we're doomed before birth
    Maybe there's too much pollution
    Maybe we're not sleeping enough
    Maybe we shouldn't have quit smoking




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    Discussion

    Not buying it? Still think one of these theories is a culprit in Americans' expanding waistlines? Why?
     
    1. So it's not actually the HFCS that is making us fat, it is our increased consumption of it. Hmmmm. And why have we increased our consumption of sugar? Is it intentional? Did we all go out 30 or so years ago and say, I think I will eat more sweets because it is so good for me? No, I don't think so. What has happened is that the companies who make processed food have increased the amount of sugar AND HFCS that they are adding to foods. People like the taste and they eat more and it creates a viscious cycle of addictive eating behavior. No matter what the studies say there is no proof that HFCS or sugar are good for you!
    Submitted by: Kristine Nicholson
    8:34 AM PDT, Jul 23, 2008
     
    2. I eat all I want low-carb, weigh 114 though sedentary middle-aged & have lowest-risk cholesterol ratio. Don't blame the overweight–our food is boobytrapped with sugars/chemicals that ruin metabolism causing irresistible wrong brain signals re what/how much to eat. Government naively says “fats make you fat” but research shows it’s carbs. Fats are “essential” (& hunger isn’t satiated without them–obesity zoomed when folks obeyed the cutback directive). Protein-amino acids-are “essential” (for me 50g per the book Protein Power). Carbs aren’t essential; avoid sugar, refined carbs (become sugar fast), artificial sweeteners (try natural Stevia)
    Submitted by: Courtney
    7:24 PM PDT, Jul 20, 2008
     
    3. Reduced smoking doesn’t explain the alarming rise in childhood obesity.
    Submitted by: Lynn
    6:38 PM PDT, Jul 20, 2008
     
    Read all 92 comments


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