it's a natural consequence of "dramatic socio-historic increases in the production, availability, safety, abundance and affordability of food" over the millennium that started in the year 1000 A.D.

I guess it was an interesting research question but there really isn't any correlation between portion size over the last 1000 years and current obesity rates. I wish there was 'cause I could blame my arts rich Roman Catholic upbringing for my weight problem. :)

Yeah, it's a stretch - I've read a fair amount about meals in the medieval and post-medieval eras and man, when people sat down to a feast they ate portions of food that are staggering and sick-making by modern standards. It's hard to say there was a clear trend by viewing artwork.

Heh. I think it's a stretch to do any correlation stuff, but I thought it was an interesting thing in and of itself. I always forget that I actually have to state things like that when I make posts.

Well starting around 1000 AD, the Midieval Warm Period increased the size of harvests and extended the areas (in Europe at least) where crops could be grown, hence more food, more population, etc. It's not surprising that the size of meals grew.

I mean in 837 the whoppers were TINY.