June 21, 2002 -- Paying a few cents more for a "value meal" or
June 21, 2002 -- Paying a few cents more for a "value meal" or an upgrade to a "super-size" snack may seem like a good deal, but a new report says your waistline winds up paying the price.
"Americans are constantly induced to spend a little more money to get a lot more food," says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), in a news release. "Getting more for your money is ingrained in the American psyche. But bigger is rarely better when it comes to food."
The CSPI joined a group of more than 225 health organizations in issuing the report, From Wallet to Waistline: The Hidden Costs of Super Sizing. The report says the food industry's value marketing policy of providing more food for less money encourages overeating and contributes to obesity.
The authors found upgrading to larger serving sizes increases price only modestly, but substantially increases calorie and fat content. For example, upgrading from a 3-ounce Minibon to a Classic Cinnabon only increases the price by 24%, but packs 123% more calories.
The report also says the practice of "bundling" -- turning a fast food sandwich into a meal by adding a large serving of fries and a soft drink -- is responsible for some of the biggest caloric boosts. For example, turning a Burger King Whopper into a value meal costs only $1.69 more, but packs an extra 590 calories.
And the authors say it can cost more to purchase a smaller, lower calorie meal at a fast food chain than a larger one. They found that a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese, small fries, and a small Coke purchased separately cost 8 cents more than the Quarter Pounder with Cheese Extra Value Meal, which comes with a large fries, large Coke, and an extra 490 calories.
The problem also extends to movie theaters. Going from a small to a medium bag of popcorn only raises the price 71 cents (up 23%) -- but the calorie count jumps an astounding 125% -- 500 calories. And this is for unbuttered popcorn.
But a spokesperson for the restaurant industry says nearly all restaurants offer a variety of foods that allow customers to customize their meals to meet their needs.
"Restaurants have always offered a number of sizes and choices," says Sheila Cohn, RD, nutrition coordinator for the National Restaurant Association.
Although the report claims serving sizes have grown in recent years, Cohn says the same original sizes are still available at most fast-food restaurants.
She says restaurants are there to serve, and they are merely responding to consumer demands with value pricing programs.
"People want value," Cohn tells WebMD. "And restaurants are there to give people what they want."
