Now That New York Has Limited the Size of Sugary Drinks, a City Official Has His Eye on Portion Sizes

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When I moved to New York City in 1994, it didn?t exactly feel like a lawless place, but you did get the sense that it was pretty much an ?anything goes? zone. Not anymore.

Coming on the heels of bans on smoking, trans fats, and large sugary drinks, Food Safety News reports that Thomas Farley, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, has written an article for the Journal of the American Medical Association. In it, he suggests that government should impose limits on portion sizes as part of its strategy for combatting America's obesity epidemic.

They quote Farley as saying, ?Americans consume many more calories than needed, and the excess is leading to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality.?

MORE: How Many Americans Drink Soda Every Day?

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Science Codex expanded on Farley?s comments noting his observations in JAMA that, ?Since the 1970s, caloric intake has increased by some 200 to 600 calories per person per day. Although it is unclear how important changes in physical activity are to the surge in obesity prevalence, it is quite clear that this increase in calorie consumption is the major cause of the obesity epidemic?an epidemic that each year is responsible for the deaths of more than 100,000 Americans and accounts for nearly $150 billion in health care costs."

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute offered some evidence as to why we?re eating more saying that, ?Food portions in America's restaurants have doubled or tripled over the last 20 years, a key factor that is contributing to a potentially devastating increase in obesity among children and adults.?

But you?re not safe in other public places either. The CDC has noted, ?However, the rise of portion sizes is not limited to restaurants alone. Bags of snack foods or soft drinks in vending machines and the grocery store are offered in larger and larger sizes . . . But do people look at food that is offered and automatically assess how much is a normal serving size, and then actually eat only the normal serving size? Do they adjust what they eat after consuming large portion sizes? The research says they may not.?

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Actually, I can answer that question without doing any research. No, people, myself included, do not sit around assessing normal serving sizes. Which is why Farley?s suggestion that education may be one of the best strategies for combatting obesity is our best option.

According to Food Safety News he writes that, ?The balanced and most effective approach is for governments to regulate food products that harm the most people, simultaneously encourage food companies to voluntarily produce and market healthful products, and then provide information to consumers in ways that facilitate their choosing healthful products."

That?s a tall order, but I guess it?s a start. One fact is indisputable though?my heathen life in New York City is definitely a thing of the past.

Do you want the government telling you how much you should eat?

Lawrence Karol is a writer and editor who lives with his dog, Mike. He is a former Gourmet staffer and enjoys writing about design, food, travel and lots of other stuff. @WriteEditDream | Email Lawrence | TakePart.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/now-york-limited-size-sugary-drinks-city-official-044701486.html

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