14 DAY TRIAL // There are many apparently bizarre theories about the case of the rampant current obesity in the western countries. A new one put the blame on ... the microwaves.
"Obesity rates started to rise soon after 1984 - around the time of the rapid spread of microwave ownership. The mid-1980s also saw the first ready-meals appearing in shops." said Jane Wardle, professor of clinical psychology at University College London.
In 1980, 8% of the British women and 6% of men entered in the category of obese. By 2004 this has increased to 24% for both sexes.
The infantile obesity has also risen, to 16% of children up to 15 in 2003 compared to 10-12% in 1995. High calories diets and low physical activity are the main culpable. Previous generations had a higher calorie consume, but they had more physically demanding jobs.
"I looked at the figures showing rates of obesity in the population over many years and it seem very clear it began between 1984 and 1987. So then we looked at what changes were going on in the food and activity world at that time and one of the striking changes was there were differences in the speed with which we could prepare a meal as a consequence of the introduction of microwaves." said Wardle.
"Food also became cheaper and ready meals began to appear on supermarket shelves. I'm not trying to demonise the microwave but it was emblematic of a change that took place in the 1980s in terms of the availability of food - a real change in the disincentives for eating."
"Co-op introduced the supermarket retail format to Britain, heralding the late 20th century food revolution in which prices have tumbled, car use rocketed, physical activity plummeted and the NHS (National Health Service) was born which picks up the pieces." said Professor Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University in London.
Others disagree with this point of view.
"The current obesity epidemic can be tracked back to 1945 and the end of the Second World War. The end of the war saw technology starting to replace physical effort in both work and leisure." said Professor Ken Fox, professor of exercise and health science at the University of Bristol.
"All the theories could have contributed to rising levels of obesity and there was no one cause. Microwaves are a double-edged sword because they are also a very healthy way of cooking food and supermarkets sell healthy food if people choose to buy it." said Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum.