Numbers Game: Answer

In 1980, average per capita consumption of high fructose corn syrup in the United States clocked in at 19 pounds. In 2005? 59 pounds.

That's a 310 percent increase in 25 years!

A few other figures jump out for less than stellar reasons.

Shortening (trans fat central!) consumption jumped from 18.2 pounds to 32.6 pounds in that same amount of time, and sour cream/dips more than doubled (from 3.4 half pints in 1980 to 7.9 half pints 25 years later.)

It goes without saying that increased consumption also means increased caloric intake.

And the increasing obesity rate over the past two decades is a mystery because...?