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Recession may lead to more weight gain

Irish 14-year-olds today on average weigh about 52 pounds more than their grandparents did at that age, according to a study from University College Cork. A much better standard of living now than right after the war plays a big part in the difference, but the recession may also cause kids to pack on the pounds.

That’s because calorie-rich junk food and fast food is cheaper than healthy foods, which also take more time to prepare that people might not be willing or able to take these days. Researchers also blamed huge portion sizes for some of the increase in child size.

McDonald’s plans 240 new European locations

Not too many years ago there were pretty harsh feelings in a lot of Europe about the evil of McDonald’s, but these days the Golden Arches popping up are a much more welcome sight in many parts of the continent. That’s because the company is one of few that’s actually expanding now, with plans to spend $1.1 billion on 240 new stores in Europe this year.

All those new shops — plus 400 new McCafes in some of the 800 restaurants it already operates in Europe — will generate about 12,000 new jobs, which no country is willing to turn down right now. Europe has 25 percent fewer locations than America but is the company’s biggest source of revenue, and is only expected to grow as more cash-strapped citizens look for meal deals (see item above).

A third of British people drink more than daily limit

One in five British people drinks more than twice the recommended daily limit of alcohol on their heaviest drinking day, while more than a third go over the limit at least once a week.

Forty-one percent of men and 34 percent of women who took part in a survey admitted to having been over the recommended daily limit at least once in the previous week, and there was more overdrinking happening in white collar homes than among the working class.

Another study showed that more people know about the concept of units of alcohol, but just two-fifths of those surveyed could name the proper limit for men and 44 percent for women. (That’s no more than three units a day for women and four for men, with a unit being a half pint or a regular pub sized measure of alcohol or fortified wine.)

Kebabs offer all your salt and half your calories

It’s likely that a good number of those people who are overdrinking in the UK are eating doner kebab, a meaty concoction similar to a gyro, when they do it. But a study determined it’s not food people should eat regularly. A study of nutritional contents was done on 500 kebabs, and they averaged out at containing 1,000 calories, 100 grams of fat and 98 percent of your sodium intake for the day.

What’s more, two samples that were labeled as halal (that’s safe for Muslims) actually had pork in them. Health experts say there’s nothing wrong with having a kebab every now and then, but one shouldn’t make a habit of it.

I love the smell of chip shop, with just a hint of ironing board

People who are attracted to the smell of chip shops are actually apparently enjoying a complex aroma that includes hints of butterscotch, cocoa, flowers, onion and ironing board.

The research was conducted by the Potato Council for National Chip Week, and analysts say you may not actually be able to detect all these flavors when you bite a chip, but they’re there. They even suggest people in the future could taste chips like we have wine tastings now, searching out their favorites based on their subtle flavors. Sounds like a good excuse to eat more fries to me.

(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 and is filed under Beverages, Childhood obesity, Fast food and restaurants, Food miscellaneous, Foreign stories (non-U.S.), Kids and families, Nutrition, Obesity statistics. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Permalink.