Fig. 1.

Per capita energy intake in the United States, 1970–2009. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food disappearance data (corrected for waste), per capita daily energy intake in the United States has increased 20% since 1970 (133). The increase began shortly after 1980, closely paralleling the rapid increment in obesity prevalence. Although USDA data are calculated from food disappearance measurements, this recent increase is broadly consistent with estimates calculated via other methods.