random thought regarding obesity

I think you are reading too much into the meaning of the word "serving."

How could I possibly read too much into it when I just finished saying that the term is pointless and meaningless?

There is no reason to use a non-standardized measurement for presenting nutrition info on a label, and even less of a reason to term said non-standardized measurement as a "serving."

A "serving" is not equal in ANY way - weight, volume, calories, carbs, fat, etc. NOTHING is equal. All servings are different. Even the same food item from brand to brand has a different amount for a "serving." And there is no certain amount of "servings" we're supposed to eat in a day. So what is the point of calling it a "serving" when it means absolutely nothing? It's not even useful to measure a serving 99% of the time!

It is meaningful. It tells you how to determine how many calories are in whatever quantity you consume. That's the purpose of the information being on the label, and it fulfills that purpose perfectly. What word would be better? A "cup" or a "unit" or what? Regardless what you call it, it still does exactly the same thing so why does it matter whether it's called a serving or a unit or a quijybo or a purplemonkeydishwasher?

This serving this seems to be more of a problem in USA than here (UK). Most things that say they are two or more servings I am not surprised by. As well as that, everything must be also labelled with nutritional info per 100g, so the maths is pretty easy to do.

How many obese people are reading labels or worrying about serving sizes? None that I know. You don't get to be obese by worrying about your calorie intake.

Obese people didn't start obese, and perhaps if serving sizes and calorie information was clearer, they'd have thought twice before eating too much...

Do you really think obese people sit around totally confused over serving sizes and calorie information? As a formerly obese person, I can tell you that I sure didn't. I don't have trouble with reading or math skills, and am quite handy with my digital kitchen scale. When I was obese, I wasn't counting calories....I wasn't even trying to.

Like another person commenting in this thread, I also ate a whole lot of foods that didn't come in packages bearing serving sizes/nutritional info. I loved to cook then just as I do now, so most of what I ate (same as now) comes from the green grocer, the butcher, etc. No nutritional info on those things, and as I said, I didn't bother to look it up because I wasn't counting calories.

I wasn't obese because of strange labelling--I was obese for several reasons--a couple of them totally my fault (lack of exercise, lack of concern with just how much food I was eating) and a couple that were beyond my knowledge/control (medical issues that were undiagnosed at the time).

Obesity doesn't make people retarded.

And yeah, this debate about whether the serving size info is useful or not because it's not some standardised unit? Silly. If you know that that a given amount of that food contains x calories, x carbs, x sugars, etc. you can easily work out what your intake is, either with a scale (when you're at home) or by a rough estimate if you're out and about.

Nobody ever texts me so maybe that helps, but I have a very mathmatically inclined hubby so he does my math for me ^^. When I decided to pay attention to what I eat I have started reading nutritional info on everything in great detail. I dont get to do the shopping (or have much say in what is brought unless we use extra of our own money which there isnt much of) so that doesnt always turn out so well. I try not to eat too many carbs like pasta and potato but I love rice so I eat a lot of that lol.
Its funny when you start to look at it you notice the amount of sugar in things you would never have thought had any.

Why are they not healthy? Granted, the sugar may seem high however it is naturally occurring sugar. For example, one serving of grapes has 20 grams of sugar in it and more often than not people consume more than one serving of grapes in a sitting (at least I know I do). Ultimately, it's a healthier choice than potato chips, chocolate bars, or deep fried foods.

It amazes me how people who have never been obese view people who are. Astounding, really.

^this

Also if u eat out, portions are never measured. 3oz fries= kitchen guys hand full. Bigger hands, bigger portion. I started working in a kitchen again, eating at work... weight loss stalled and i put on 5 lbs. Still counting calories- just super inaccurate from eating out.

no. i'm obese because i just don't care. i ate it anyway and didn't care if it was the wrong portion. and wasn't exercising.
now i'm dealing with the consequences.

I have been fooled by packaging quite a few times in the past. Here in the UK it's clear they deliberately make it confusing on lots of items. I now east mainly freshingredients so there isn't much confusion! I'm good at maths, that isn't the issue. It's the fact they deliberately make it misleading! Did packaging make me fat? No... Because I didn't look. Simple as that! The best advice I can give is to eat food in their natural state as much as possible. So much better for you on so many levels!

Zara :-)

1) No one is arguing that obese people don't often disregard serving sizes. No one is arguing that obese people can't do math.

2) Even as contentious eaters, serving sizes still remains a frustration

3) Does anyone really break up their 20 ounce soda into 2.5 servings?

4) It's tricky and underhanded that companies do so.

^
This

i always get filled up with the label serving portion sizes

How many obese people are reading labels or worrying about serving sizes? None that I know. You don't get to be obese by worrying about your calorie intake.

Absolutely correct. However, let's hypothesize said obese person is trying to lose weight & eat better. Couldn't the ridiculous portion sizes be a factor in weight loss failure? I obviously don't think labels make people fat. Unless they are eating them too.

What your saying is the portion sizes are too small and child like really, i know ive measured cereal out and thought, omg doesnt even fill half the bowl, maybe a few mouth fulls and thats it. but its not about the company serving size, there just following guidlines and if your wanting to stay a healthy weight, you follow them.

When I was overweight it was due to self control.

Not math.

^^^THIS!^^^ I was also lazy. People can blame who and whatever they want, it takes the accountability away from the individual and that is it. I was fully aware of how many calories were in a WHOLE bag of chips but it didn't stop me from eating the bag of chips. If people don't want to read the label and understand it then that is their fault but for the most part obese people might simple not give a crap. You can also figure your own serving sizes based on the info on the labels. I do this so that I can eat the right amount for me. You will need math to do this though. I am awful at math (it is pretty sad) but I figured it out.

When I was a kid, cereal bowls were more the size of today's typical vegetable serving bowl. As a result, we ate a lot more cereal. Today, when I measure out that 3/4 cup and put it in a present day cereal bowl, it looks like a lot more than 3/4 of a cup.

I do agree that serving sizes need to be more realistic. But people also need to be JUST as realistic.

I know food labels. I look at food labels. I can usually guess serving sizes and calories in foods fairly accurate now that I have been paying attention to it for so long. However, that does not mean I actually stop eating at 1 serving because I know what 1 serving is <----That is the problem.