Americans are immersed in messages to consume calories anywhere, all the time, and in ever-bigger amounts.

In today’s environment, overeating is glorified. Gluttony has lost much of its stigma because marketers see sales opportunities. We’re seeing an increasing cultural acceptance of “big” -- as cars, houses, stadium seats, hospital beds, baby strollers and coffins are enlarged to accommodate the collective gain.

	The World Health Organization (WHO) agrees with scientists who blame our changing environment (versus changing biology or gene pool) for the global obesity epidemic -- which America leads.
	Other public health advocates see our “toxic environment” -- in which supersizing and 24/7 availability of cheap, low-nutrient foods is pervasive -- as obesity’s primary contributor.
	Children are consuming record amounts of added sugar in soft drinks, fast foods and snack foods. As a result, many have “underdeveloped palates” -- having been weaned on (salty, greasy, sweet) fast foods, frozen convenience foods, etc. -- which establish a hard-to-break preference for them. (Source: Robyn Flipse, registered dietician, Ocean, NJ)
	Among kids, the most-liked foods tend to be breads, desserts, snack foods and fast-food meals.
	The export of American culture has caused the phenomenon known as “globesity.” As populations of other nations acquire a taste for our fast food, snack foods and soft drinks, they gain weight as well.

The calorie climb is primarily due to two major, marketing-driven cultural changes, which has made them a constant presence in our lives.

	Greater use of prepared foods
	Frequent eating out

In 1970, what the USDA calls the “food away from home” portion of the America’s food dollar was 25%.  By 1996, it was more than 40%. 

In 1977-78, Americans consumed 19% of their calories away from home. By 1995, it was 34%.