Critical examination of the demographic and psychological implications of mass preparation theory

The obesity epidemic has generated a tremendous amount of speculation regarding its etiology. Some explanations focus on structural changes in U.S. society, such as the increased reliance on modern technologies for food production, work and entertainment (French, Story and Jeffery 2001; Koplan and Deitz 1999; Philipson and Posner 2003). Other explanations cite societal trends that have coincided with the rise in obesity, such the marketing of high calorie foods and engagement in passive leisure activities, both of which have reached all time highs in the U.S. (Brownell 2002; French et al. 2001). Still other explanations focus narrowly on specific determinants, such as the "supersized" portions available at a number of restaurants (Simms and Martell 2003).