Calorie Counting Still A Mystery for Americans

Posted on August 16, 2009 in Health & Medicine, Recent Studies

Many efforts have been made to figure out what Americans eat, and how much. The latest issue of the annual study, “What We Eat in America,” shows the average American consuming 2157 calories in a 24 hour period. Men average a slightly higher intake at 2638, women average lower at 1785 calories per day.

The problem is that everyone lies about what they eat. Despite meticulous efforts to keep track of people’s eating habits, researchers estimate that these numbers are at least one third lower than the actual numbers. Particularly since national food production is over 4000 calories per person per day, it appears likely that people actually eat much more than they would like to admit.

The report also showed that most Americans get enough of the basic vitamins through their daily diets. The report looked at our daily intake of calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, and magnesium. Of the four, only magnesium lagged behind the recommended daily intake.

The numbers are so inaccurate, researchers agree that it is difficult to use the results of the survey for scientific purposes. Better research methods are needed before we can get a crystal clear picture of America’s dietary habits.