The Case Against Super-Sizing
Going for the 3 Increases: Increase in Health, Increase in
Happiness & Increase in Energy
Strategies for
Success in Weight
Management
By: James J. Messina, Ph.D.
A Not So Surprising News Flash!
Nutrition groups reported on June 11, 2002:
 "Value meals," "Combos" and "SuperSized" at America's fast-food counters
may seem like a good deal for your wallet,
but they're no bargain when it comes to
your health
 They greatly boosts calories & fat in a
meal while actually costing consumers
more money
No bargain after all!
Super-sizing costs you money to buy
extra calories you don't need
 Those extra calories may help Americans
feel like they are getting a bargain, but
are also contributing to country's 61%
rate of adult obesity

What’s in your Big Buns?
A "Minibon" cinnamon bun at popular
Cinnabon bakeries costs an average of
$2.01 & carries 300 calories & 5 grams of
saturated fat
 Cinnabon encourages purchasing "Classic
Cinnabon" buns for $.48 more
 The 24% increase in price brings 123%
more calories & 3 times amount of
saturated fat

This one is hard to swallow!

"Super-Gulp" soft drinks at 7-Eleven
stores cost an extra $.37 cents but more
than triple number of calories to an
average of 600
Paying more for less!
People who want less food than a "supersized" meal provides may have to pay
more to get it
 Buying a quarter-pounder with cheese
with a small order of French fries & a
small Coke costs $4.40, 8 cents more
than a bundled large Extra Value Meal
with 35% more calories

Value marketing is manipulation
Increasing portion sizes & overall caloric
intake are major factors in America's
growing obesity problem
 Obesity is considered a major risk factor
for illnesses including diabetes, heart
disease & some types of cancer

Americans are quite literally eating
themselves into an early grave
US Department of Agriculture study
showed that Americans consume 171
more calories on average than they did a
decade ago
 Trend continues despite falling levels of
physical activity & exercise

Tips to overcome the Super-sizing
Trend
Always ask for small food sizes & resist
temptation to buy larger portions
 Share super-sized foods as way to stretch
calories further
 "Big One" Snickers bar delivers 510
calories for $1.02 at 7-Eleven, compared
to 280 calories for a 69-cent regular bar
 If you choose to buy a "Big One," cut it in
thirds and make two friends happy

Contributing Agencies to SuperSizing Report




Center for Science in the Public Interest http://www.cspinet.org/
American Institute for Cancer Research http://www.aicr.org
US Department of Agriculture http://www.nutrition.gov/home/index.php3
Food Policy Institute at the Consumer
Federation of America http://www.consumerfed.org/backpage/fpi.html