Part IV of Ten Ten Ten’s seven-part Obesity Series is now live.

Americans are not eating more simply because they grew hungrier. Over the past five decades, restaurants and food companies deliberately enlarged portions because adding more fries, soda, and other inexpensive calories costs very little while increasing the perceived value and profitability of a meal.

The consequences are measurable. A McDonald’s fries order grew from roughly 200 calories in 1960 to as many as 610 calories four decades later. Research suggests oversized portions can add 144 to 228 calories to an adult’s daily intake, often without making the person feel any fuller.

Part IV examines how value meals, supersizing, and restaurant economics redefined a “normal” serving. It also explores evidence-based solutions, including smaller default portions, stronger menu labeling, and healthier school meal standards.

Read Part IV of VII: Engineering the Meal. (https://substack.com/@tententenorg/p-206099885)