Obesity and the Western Diet: How We Got Here

ABSTRACT

[...]the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension study found that a diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy resulted in lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures when compared to a standard western diet.6 What is the Western "American" Diet? The typical Western (American) diet is low in fruits and vegetables, and high in fat and sodium. [...]this diet consists of large portions, high calories, and excess sugar.3 This excess sugar accounts for more than 13% of the daily caloric intake with beverages constituting 47% of these added sugars.4 Other sources include cookies, cakes, and candy. [...]half of all Americans have a preventable chronic illness.3 According to the American Heart Association, 81 million American adults have cardiovascular disease which includes coronary artery disease or cerebrovascular disease. According to the CDC, 13.7 million children and adolescents are considered obese in the United States.8 Multiple studies have also shown that obesity during midlife increases the risk of developing dementia.