Study: All Age Groups Increasing Caloric Intake

Children and young adults are not the only ones eating more high-energy foods, a trend causing a growing epidemic of obesity. All age groups across the country are increasing their caloric intake, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

When combined with less physical activity than what was seen in the past, the greater consumption of calories significantly raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and other health perils, the researchers reported in the journal Obesity Research.

"Dietary patterns are rapidly shifting in the United States, and these changes are important contributors to the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes facing Americans," said Barry Popkin, professor of nutrition and co-author of the study. "Clearly the problem is that Americans are eating too much food. The shifts in where we are eating, as well as the types of food, are critical."

The researchers found that all age groups are eating out more at restaurants, including fast food chains.

"This new study makes an important contribution by showing how uniform the changes in the types of food eaten and the locations of food consumption are across all age groups," reported Popkin. "This is not a problem that only faces teens or young adults but one that faces all Americans."

Researchers analyzed data from the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey and three separate Continuing Surveys of Food Intake by Individuals. They divided the overall sample of 63,380 people into four groups: Ages 2 to 18, 19 to 39, 40 to 59 and 60 and above.

"We looked at all kinds of foods including desserts, salty snacks, candy, french fries, hamburgers, pizza, low and medium fat milk products and meats and hot dogs," said Samara Joy Nielsen, nutrition doctor student. "Among our findings were that even though the two younger age groups were consuming more of these high-energy foods like french fries and burgers, they were still eating them in the same proportion to other age groups as they were 25 years ago. That means this obesity epidemic is definitely environmental not just specific to certain age groups."

Large increases in the eating of snacks and a strong decrease in consumption of low- and medium-fat milk and medium- and high-fat beef and pork were also seen.

"Although the elderly still snack the least, with 14 percent of their energy coming from snacks, they have had the largest jump in snacking, up from 7.7 percent in 1977, which is almost double," said Nielsen. "Among people under age 39, pizza and salty snack consumption rose as much as 143 percent."

"By now, most people know they should eat more fruits and vegetables and less high-energy foods, but that doesn't mean they are doing it," added Nielsen.

Other sources: University of North Carolina