America is known for its large portion sizes and the even bigger problem of obesity – and this map shows why.
People in the US consume an average of 3,868 calories per day, the second highest number of any country in the world.
It’s only surpassed by Bahrain in the Middle East, where people eat an average of more than 4,000 calories a day.
That’s according to a study by Oxford University-based company OurWorldInData, which compiled figures on calorie consumption by country from the United Nations.
The UK was 26th overall, with the average person consuming 3,422 calories every 24 hours.
HYPERLINKS PLEASE
Of the 184 countries surveyed for the study, 173 consumed more than 2,000 calories a day — or more than the recommended daily average for both sexes.
Researchers warn that overconsumption promotes obesity — 1 billion people are obese today, compared to 175 million in the 1970s — and exacerbates related health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s.
Topping the list was Bahrain, a small but prosperous island nation off the coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
Data shows that four out of 10 adults in the country are obese, which has been linked to a more sedentary lifestyle and increased consumption of fast food.
Completing the five countries with the highest calorie consumption were Ireland with 3,850 calories per day, Belgium with 3,824 and Turkey with 3,762.
The data compiled by OurWorldInData – an information platform from the University of Oxford – comes from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The data was based on total grocery purchases per household on average for each country and does not necessarily represent calories consumed. For example, waste is not taken into account.
But calorie consumption has been increasing around the world for decades as convenience foods, fast foods and more processed foods hit the market.
As foods become more calorie-dense, researchers warn that they are also becoming less nutrient-dense.
Some experts say this creates a vicious cycle in which the human body urges people to eat more to get essential nutrients.
However, this results in many consuming extra calories that they are not burning.
The overconsumption epidemic is also linked to poor sleep, which is attributed to a 24-hour lifestyle, the constant presence of electric lights, and a stressful lifestyle.
Studies show that when a person is sleep deprived, their appetite is not regulated as well and is therefore more likely to lead to overconsumption. They are also more likely to eat high-sugar foods than those who are rested.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that people should consume about 2,000 calories per day on average.
The UK’s public health service, the NHS, says women should eat around 2,000 calories a day, but men should eat 2,500.
Percentage of the world population who were obese from 1975 to 2016, according to OurWorldInData
At the other end of the scale, Central African Republic had the lowest calorie consumption in the world – at 1,641 per person per day.
It was followed by Burundi (16.96), Madagascar (1,770), Zimbabwe (1,853) and Yemen (1,957).
All of these countries have faced ongoing political conflicts that have impacted their economies and, in turn, their national food supplies.
The Central African Republic, which landed at the bottom of the list, has been experiencing a civil war since 2012 that has now forced 1.1 million people – or a fifth of the country’s population – to flee their homes.
The current government of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra relies on the Russian Wagner Group to maintain its authority.