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In reply to the discussion: Weight gain in the American population 1960-2000 [View all]Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)31. It's also right around the time food companies started using HFCS
In 1977, importing sugar became expensive because of new tariffs and sugar quotas. Those manufacturers who used sugar began searching for a cheap alternative sweetener. Even before this happened, sugar was beginning to lose market share to high fructose corn syrup. The quotas and tariffs only made it more attractive since it was cheaper to produce and transport. To make it, powdery corn starch is processed into glucose, which is then processed into the clear syrup fructose. Corn prices were much lower than sugar prices because of government subsidies and overproduction.
http://www.ehow.com/about_5106547_history-high-fructose-corn-syrup.html
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My parents got their first remote control in the early '80s when they got cable TV
bklyncowgirl
Aug 2014
#90
That would be my first choice. Also, obesity is linked with poverty in affluent societies
eridani
Aug 2014
#8
the suburbs themselves changed as well in the 80s--they were easier to invest in
MisterP
Aug 2014
#61
Two 1980 factors. Corn sugar replaced real sugar in soft drinks and we got Nutrasweet.
McCamy Taylor
Aug 2014
#13
The body recognizes fructose as food but absorbs it more easily than other sugars (sucrose, lactose)
KurtNYC
Aug 2014
#34
^^THIS^^ But also add the introduction of the two-liter bottle of soft drinks
Turn CO Blue
Aug 2014
#49
The OP was actually about vastly higher rates of population weight gain after 1980 as
eridani
Aug 2014
#97
Unhealthiness is profitable to well-heeled private interests, so we subsidize unhealthiness.
Romulox
Aug 2014
#18
My primary go-to book on nutrition science is Gary Taubes' "Good Calories, Bad Calories"
GliderGuider
Aug 2014
#48
Red Yeast Rice Extract, the natural source of all statins has been around
McCamy Taylor
Aug 2014
#73
Another factor: The rise of all-day snacking and the growth of the availability of
Arugula Latte
Aug 2014
#23
My "vote" is for HFCS. Whatever the reason, you can bet we're fatter due to some
ChisolmTrailDem
Aug 2014
#39
keep on subsidizing cheap food grown with agrotoxins, inhumane treatment of animals
wordpix
Aug 2014
#76
probably a combination of easily available junk food and TV, Video Games, Computers
JI7
Aug 2014
#70
I'll weigh in with this tidbit. I was just thinking the other day about 4 ounce juice glasses.
snagglepuss
Aug 2014
#78