Super Sized

Sitting at dinner last night, I found myself pondering the disgusting phenomenon of American obesity. It is estimated that as many as one in five Americans is obese, a condition defined as being more than 30 percent above the ideal weight based on height. Even more alarming is the fact that obesity rates for children have doubled over the past 20 years. And as I look at the world around me, and the people in it, I become more and more revolted. However, I think I have found one of the main reasons for this super-sized problem.

Completely starved for dinner after a long day at work, a friend and I headed to one of our favorite restaurants, Wasabi Bistro, a modern Japanese restaurant in Belltown. I have been obsessed with this sushi heaven ever since the first time I went there. It’s reasonably priced and the food is to die for, not to mention that virtually nothing requires cooking, so you get your meal in no time.

Since I was completely famished, I couldn’t decide what to order. Even though I was tempted to get about five sushi rolls, I settled for one, the Mango Tango, which is AMAZING – filled with shrimp tempura, cilantro, red bell pepper and mango. I also ordered an appetizer of tempura eggplant with sweet and spicy sauce to tide myself over. By the time it arrived, I had already eaten a ton of edamame, the restaurant’s specialty. It’s amazing how a few of those little bean pods can fill you up just as much as the mounds of bread most restaurants provide.

After splitting the eggplant appetizer, I was still excited for my sushi roll, but the feeling of wanting to gnaw off my own arm had passed. In fact, but the time I had finished, I actually had to force myself to pop the last bite of Mango Tango into my mouth. Interesting, considering I hadn’t even really consumed that much in terms of volume. Some beans, a couple pieces of eggplant, and six pieces of rice and vegetables. Yet I was stuffed! How had this mean managed to fill me up more than a Big Mac, large fries and a Coke?

I’ve never been to Japan, but for some reason I have been under the impression that most Japanese people are pretty thin. Perhaps this is a stereotype. However, when I did some research, I found that the prevalence of obesity has been found to be less than 5% in Japan and China. A drastic difference compared to the more than 20% in America. So obesity levels do vary depending on ethnic origin. I believe it, after the delicious and filling meal I had at Wasabi Bistro.

Which brings me to the topic of portion control in America. Research says a number of factors have been linked to obesity, including age, gender and socio-economic status. Sure. I’ll buy that. Somewhat. But from my recent experiences, I am convinced that establishing some portion control in restaurants for greedy Americans could significantly reduce the American obesity problem.

This past weekend I had dinner at Daniel’s Broiler, a Seattle steakhouse restaurant. My friend and I decided to split a meal, mainly because of the pricy menu. But after being served our food, we were both unable to even finish our respective halves. What does that say about the portions this restaurant serves? And the problem is that most people have the mindset of “getting what they paid for.” Therefore they will continue to stuff their faces until everything put before them is gone. I myself am guilty of this sin. Another example: I often go to lunch at a Thai restaurant near my work. Every time I order the Pad Thai, and every time I go home with a giant doggy bag. The leftovers from this lunch are usually enough to feed me for an additional two meals!

Americans are used to getting massive amounts of food, whether it be at fancy restaurants or fast food places. The portions are usually far larger than the recommended portion sizes for most foods, but the costs remain relatively low. So it makes sense for restaurants to offer larger portions that make their customers feel like they are getting a bang for their buck. And as Americans eat out more and more frequently, they become accustomed to those oversized portions, and think they are normal. If we don’t get enough food, we feel that we’ve paid too much and will not return, so the restaurants are happy to indulge our greedy bellies.

Ironically, many people will pay for a gym membership that they rarely use, but when paying money for food, they insist on devouring every morsel so they won’t waste a single penny. In 1995 in the USA, the total economic cost attributed to obesity was estimated at $99 billion. Frankly, it makes me want to puke.

I know there is nothing that I can do to change the world, but I can try to be aware of my own choices regarding my diet. I try to keep in mind the advice that my mother told me long ago: “Eat until you’re not hungry anymore, not until you are full.” I wish all Americans could try to have a similar mindset. Because it breaks my heart as I see the incidence of childhood obesity rise on a daily basis, simply because many parents are too busy, lazy or greedy to feed their children nutritious meals.

Obesity is a SERIOUS medical condition, which needs urgent attention throughout the world, and especially in America. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) was established in 1996 to tackle the emerging global epidemic of obesity. Learn more about it here.

And keep in mind, you don’t always HAVE to clean your plate in order to get dessert, no matter what your mother taught you.