By Dale J. Venturini
President & CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
On January 1st, millions of Americans make their New Year’s Resolutions, vowing to change their ways. The number one resolution by Americans every year centers on food and exercise. “This year, I am going to lose weight and keep it off” yell Americans as they ring in the New Year.
And, they stick to their guns - at least for the first month. By February, the treadmills and the elliptical machines are quiet and Americans quickly revert to the pre-New Year’s ways and weights.
We are getting heavier. The average weight for U.S. men increased by 25 pounds over the past 40 years, while weight for the nation's women rose 24 pounds, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And, an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.
In recent years, we have seen a number of diet gurus emerge. The Atkin’s Diet - filled with saturated fats, but no carbs - become the most popular diet since the grapefruit diet of the 70s. The South Beach Diet, which calls for a more balanced diet, but requires a 500-page book to follow, came next. Unfortunately, the secret to a healthy lifestyle can’t be found between the pages of these best-selling books. Americans would lose more weight if they did bicep curls with all the diet and exercise books, than if they followed the advice offered inside.
Americans love food - no doubt about it. And, Americans love dining out. And yes, it seems Americans are becoming more and more obese over time. As waistlines have increased, so has the call to find something to blame for the fattening of America. The target – America’s restaurants.
As little as five years ago, we never would have thought about suing a restaurant because we gained weight. But, today we’re told it’s not our fault we’re fat, it’s the evil restaurant empire that has brainwashed us into eating poorly and not exercising.
No one is forcing Americans to eat unhealthy foods. There is no smoking gun memo or hidden agenda among America’s restaurants to make Americans fatter. Even in today’s super-sized world, there are plenty of healthy alternatives on every menu, from fast food to five-star restaurants.
The rise in obesity is the result of many complex factors affecting eating and activity behaviors. It is naïve and simplistic to only consider one factor, such as consumption – regardless of the type of food – when determining whether someone is healthy. Individual eating habits and activity behaviors are influenced by a wide range of interconnected psycho-biological, cultural, social and environmental factors.
When consumers dine in one of the nation’s 900,000 restaurants, they can choose from a wide variety of portion sizes and healthy choices. In fact, in a poll conducted by the National Restaurant Association, seventy percent of adults agree that there are enough portion sizes available in the nation’s restaurants, particularly for people who are watching their calories and fat consumption.
It is not the restaurant industry’s role to dictate to Americans appropriate portion sizes and menu choices based on their weight and physical appearance. Should we start weighing our customers before they sit down to dinner to determine their portion size? Should the government start taxing people based on their weight? Where would it end?
Instead of reading and watching that Americans are getting fatter, we should put down the newspaper, turn off the TV and get some exercise. The secret to healthy living is best achieved through balanced diet and exercise, not by blaming some of America’s favorite foods and restaurants.
So, let’s all begin the New Year with a resolution we CAN keep – let’s resolve to stop blaming others for our behavior and let’s commit to taking responsibility for our choices in life.
President & CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
On January 1st, millions of Americans make their New Year’s Resolutions, vowing to change their ways. The number one resolution by Americans every year centers on food and exercise. “This year, I am going to lose weight and keep it off” yell Americans as they ring in the New Year.
And, they stick to their guns - at least for the first month. By February, the treadmills and the elliptical machines are quiet and Americans quickly revert to the pre-New Year’s ways and weights.
We are getting heavier. The average weight for U.S. men increased by 25 pounds over the past 40 years, while weight for the nation's women rose 24 pounds, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And, an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.
In recent years, we have seen a number of diet gurus emerge. The Atkin’s Diet - filled with saturated fats, but no carbs - become the most popular diet since the grapefruit diet of the 70s. The South Beach Diet, which calls for a more balanced diet, but requires a 500-page book to follow, came next. Unfortunately, the secret to a healthy lifestyle can’t be found between the pages of these best-selling books. Americans would lose more weight if they did bicep curls with all the diet and exercise books, than if they followed the advice offered inside.
Americans love food - no doubt about it. And, Americans love dining out. And yes, it seems Americans are becoming more and more obese over time. As waistlines have increased, so has the call to find something to blame for the fattening of America. The target – America’s restaurants.
As little as five years ago, we never would have thought about suing a restaurant because we gained weight. But, today we’re told it’s not our fault we’re fat, it’s the evil restaurant empire that has brainwashed us into eating poorly and not exercising.
No one is forcing Americans to eat unhealthy foods. There is no smoking gun memo or hidden agenda among America’s restaurants to make Americans fatter. Even in today’s super-sized world, there are plenty of healthy alternatives on every menu, from fast food to five-star restaurants.
The rise in obesity is the result of many complex factors affecting eating and activity behaviors. It is naïve and simplistic to only consider one factor, such as consumption – regardless of the type of food – when determining whether someone is healthy. Individual eating habits and activity behaviors are influenced by a wide range of interconnected psycho-biological, cultural, social and environmental factors.
When consumers dine in one of the nation’s 900,000 restaurants, they can choose from a wide variety of portion sizes and healthy choices. In fact, in a poll conducted by the National Restaurant Association, seventy percent of adults agree that there are enough portion sizes available in the nation’s restaurants, particularly for people who are watching their calories and fat consumption.
It is not the restaurant industry’s role to dictate to Americans appropriate portion sizes and menu choices based on their weight and physical appearance. Should we start weighing our customers before they sit down to dinner to determine their portion size? Should the government start taxing people based on their weight? Where would it end?
Instead of reading and watching that Americans are getting fatter, we should put down the newspaper, turn off the TV and get some exercise. The secret to healthy living is best achieved through balanced diet and exercise, not by blaming some of America’s favorite foods and restaurants.
So, let’s all begin the New Year with a resolution we CAN keep – let’s resolve to stop blaming others for our behavior and let’s commit to taking responsibility for our choices in life.
