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By Robert J. Davis, Ph.D
editor-in-chief, Everwell.com
We’ve all heard the usual explanations for Americans’ expanding waistlines--everything from too many carbs to too little exercise. But might hardware stores and hair salons also be responsible? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem. Virtually everywhere we go these days--pharmacies, bookstores, banks, airports, auto repair shops--there’s food. And much of it is in the form of high-calorie snacks like sodas, cookies, muffins and chips, all of which can be hard to resist. A new study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, provides startling evidence of just how ubiquitous these temptations are. The researchers sent volunteers to visit more than 1,000 retail stores in 19 U.S. cities. They found that snack foods were available in 41 percent of businesses, often close to the cash register. Some of the stores were places you’d expect to find food, such as pharmacies and gas stations. But many others were not. More than one in five furniture stores sold snacks, as did 16 percent of clothing stores, 54 percent of car dealerships, and 55 percent of home and garden stores. Let’s assume you’re exposed twice per week to these temptations and succumb just 10 percent of the time, buying a snack containing 250 calories. The researchers calculated that this would add up to 2,600 extra calories a year. Keep doing this for several years, and before you know it, you’re packing on pounds. As this video from Everwell shows, the more accessible that snack foods are, the more we tend to eat. Unfortunately, steering completely clear of them isn’t an option (unless you’re willing to never leave your house). One solution is to become more mindful of what and how much we’re eating and to think twice before we buy. If that big muffin at the bookstore is beckoning you, try counting to 10 and asking yourself “am I really sure I want to eat this?” Often the answer will be no, and you can summon the willpower to skip the snack. It’s also a good idea to carry healthful, lower-calorie snacks with you. That way, when the sight of an oversized cookie gives you the urge to eat, you can grab an apple or a handful of nuts. And by not blowing money on snacks in the store, you’ll have a little more to spend on what you came to buy in the first place. For more health and wellness tips, and a chance to win and an iPod or SparkPeople Store gift card, click here. 
About the author Robert J. Davis, Ph.D, is president and editor-in-chief of Everwell. An award-winning health journalist whose work has appeared on CNN, PBS, WebMD and in The Wall Street Journal, he is the author of The Healthy Skeptic: Cutting Through the Hype About Your Health. He also teaches at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. Davis holds a Ph.D in health policy from Brandeis University, where he was a Pew Fellow, a master’s degree in public health from Emory, and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University. About Everwell Headquartered in Atlanta, Everwell is the brand of MediVista Media. The company produces and distributes original, award-winning video content that entertains and informs consumers about health and wellness. Developed by a team of seasoned media professionals, the content is editorially independent and reviewed for accuracy by a panel of physicians. Visit Everwell.com to learn more about the network and Everwell’s other platforms, to explore Everwell’s consumer Web site and to subscribe to e-newsletters, podcasts and text messages. Editor's note: SparkPeople and Everwell have a co-promotional agreement. Everwell is Spreading the Spark through their promotional outlets, while we're telling our members about Everwell. What is the strangest place you've ever seen food for sale? |
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