ITHACA, N.Y.—Thanksgiving usually means overindulging on turkey, trimmings and abundant desserts; however, for those Americans adhering to diets, the sight of overflowing plates and bountiful bowls of tasty delicacies might just be enough to derail their willpower, according a new article published in the journal Public Health Nutrition.
Researchers at Cornell University analyzed hundreds of articles on eating behavior and found portion size emerged as one of the most powerful links to overeating. “And it’s not just the amount you put on your plate, but also the package size from which the food comes determines how much you will eat," they said.
They also found the U.S. obesity epidemic is fueled by cheap food prices, ease of access to unhealthy food, and social factors such as seeing others eat. The article suggests dieters can weigh themselves and graph the results on a daily basis to counter these forces because it boosts one’s awareness of unconscious eating. It also suggests that the government plays a role in combating the obesity epidemic by subsidizing fruits and vegetables, making low-calorie foods cheaper.
