The Media Guy Struggles: Huge Food - What's a Media Guy to Do?

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Huge Food - What's a Media Guy to Do?

Blueberry Muffin

Then: 1.5 ounces, 210 calories Now: 5 ounces, 500 calories

I ran across Katie Robbins who's a writer for Psychology Today, theatlantic.com, LA Weekly, among others and she had some choice words for the food preparers of America. Her take is simple: Why are we being fed so much?!

"With bucket-sized soft drinks, bagels the size of baseballs, and burgers that you can barely get your mouth around, it's no wonder that, according to the CDC, one-third of adult Americans are currently obese. In the last 20 years portions have been ballooning — and we've been getting bigger right along with them. From 1980 to 2008, obesity rates doubled for adults and tripled for children.

Thanks to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health), we can take a peek back at what portions looked like 20 years ago and compare that to what they look like now. Hint? They've gotten a lot, lot bigger."

Trust me, I've been battling the weight thing forever. Truth is, in the media world, the decision makers like the attractive and the fit. We have a serious issue with being fat in American. It's not healthy for your body or your wallet. Newsweek did a survey in 2010 of hiring managers...check out these perceptions:

57% believe an unattractive (but qualified) job candidate will have a harder time getting hired;
68% believe that, once hired, looks will continue to affect the way managers rate job performance.
63% said being physically attractive is beneficial to men who are looking for work,
72% said it was an advantage for women.
On a priority scale, education came in third. Experience was second, and yep (!), attractiveness was first.

This left me wondering "Where's my inner-George Clooney?" I know this much, I need to continue substituting bananas for breakfast meats and salads for mashed potatoes. I'm not working in the fields buring 3,000 calories a day like my forefathers and now the portion sizes are out of control (see the pictures below).

So what's a Media Guy to do?

I know that to be the Super Hero in Media Guy's clothing, writing clever ad copy and delivering smart campaigns, I have to look the part as well. People want a slimmer, sleeker workforce. At age 40-something I'm ready and on my way. Somewhere Jack LaLanne and Dr. Oz are smiling.

Portion Sizes: 1992 vs. Today