[brandonmenc]

Because calories are cheaper now, thanks in large part to low cost, energy dense vegetable oils.

When people can get more calories per dollar they will eat more calories.

[edanm]

Totally might be the case. I'm not sure, but I think I've seen good reasons to think this doesn't exactly line up though - increased wealth in different countries didn't match exactly, timeline wise.

But I'm far from an expert