From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comes this infographic, "The New (Ab)Normal," showing how much average portion sizes for burgers, fries, and soda have increased since the 1950s. From the chart:

Portion sizes have been growing. So have we. The average restaurant meal today is more than four times larger than in the 1950s. And adults are, on average, 26 pounds heavier. If we want to eat heathy, there are things we can do for ourselves and our community. Order the smaller meals on the menu, split a meal with a friend, or, eat half and take the rest home. We can also ask the managers at our favorite restaurants to offer smaller meals.

Do you wish today's portion sizes were smaller?

Update (5/24/12): I received this list of sources for the infographic from a CDC representative:

"Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index, United States, 1960-2002" by Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D.; Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.; Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H.; and Katherine M.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad347.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad347.pdf "Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2003-2006" by Margaret A. McDowell, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.; Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr010.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr010.pdf "Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010"

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dgas2010-dgacreport.htm

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dgas2010-dgacreport.htm "Expanding portion sizes in the US marketplace: implications for nutrition counseling" by Young, LR, Nestle, M.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12589331

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12589331 "Portion sizes and obesity: responses of fast-food companies" by Young, LR, Nestle M.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17585324

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