Love Affair With Food

Americans love their food. That seems to be the logical conclusion of new research published by the Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service. Americans spend, on average, more than two hours a day eating and drinking as either a primary or secondary activity.

Here are the specifics:

On an average day in 2006, Americans age 15 and older spent 67 minutes eating and drinking as a “primary,” or main, activity, and 16 minutes eating and 42 minutes drinking (except plain water) as a secondary activityâ€"that is, eating while engaged in another activity considered primary by the individual. Eight percent of the population spent 4.5 hours or more a day on eating/drinking as either a primary or secondary activity. About 9 percent of Americans’ secondary eating and drinking occurred while driving a vehicle, walking, or biking. Secondary eating or drinking was most frequently accompanied by socializing, relaxing, and leisure, which includes watching television.

Also, researchers found that "individuals who are overweight or obese spent more time watching television and less time participating in sports and exercise than did those of normal weight." Shocking!

Now excuse me while I go get a snack.

(Hat tip: Docuticker)