Study: Americans’ Calorie Consumption Declining

The obesity epidemic has reached a turning point – or at least a plateau, the New York Times reports.

The Times reported that calorie consumption, after peaking in 2003, has begun falling, especially among children, where the drop is around 9%.

Meanwhile, obesity rates have stopped rising among adults and children and fallen for the youngest children, though more than a third of adults are obese.

Among the causes of the declines: consumption of full-calorie soda drinks has dropped 25%, from 40 gallons per year per average American in 1998 to 30 in 2014.

The story, written by Margot Sanger-Katz, cites three sources: food diaries monitored by researchers, bar code data, and estimates of food production.

While eating habits have shifted, the change does not represent a revolution. Americans are simply eating a little less – not exchanging junk food for fruits and vegetables.

One study cited by the article by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds adults consuming 14 fewer calories per day and children consuming 34 fewer calories. For Americans’ body weights to return to 1978 levels by 2020, adults would have to eat 220 fewer calories per day. Also, the heaviest Americans are still getting heavier.

But if you want a little good news regarding Americans’ health, check out Sanger-Katz’s piece here.