Risk of Heart Attack with ‘Western’ Diet
A recent study of 52 countries showed that diets heavy in fried foods, salty snacks and meat account for approximately 35 percent of heart attacks around the world.  The study, published in the October issue of the journal Circulation, showed that people who ate a "Western" diet based on meat, eggs and “junk food” had a higher risk of heart attacks, while those who ate more fruits and vegetables had a lower risk.  The study supports previous findings which support a link between animal fats and a risk of heart disease.

More than 16,000 patients were questioned about their eating habits, 5,700 of whom had just suffered a first heart attack, and divided into three groups.  "The first factor was labeled 'Oriental' because of its high loading on tofu and soy and other sauces, the second factor was labeled 'Western' because of its high loading on fried food, salty snacks, and meat intake, and the third dietary factor was labeled 'prudent' because of its high loadings on fruit and vegetable intake" according to the study.

Results show that participants who ate more fruits and vegetables had a 30 percent lower risk of heart attack compared to participants who ate little or no fruits and vegetables.  Also, participants who consumed a ‘Western’ diet had a 35 percent higher risk of heart attack compared to participants who consumed little or no fried foods and meat.  People consuming the ‘Oriental’ diet had an average risk of heart attack when compared to the other two groups.

Thus far it has not been clear whether food or other factors (e.g. lifestyle or socioeconomic status) drive the risk for heart attack.  "Approximately 80 percent of the global cardiovascular disease burden occurs in low- and middle-income countries," according to study researchers.  

Fast Eaters More Likely to be Overweight
People who eat hastily until full are three times more likely to be overweight, suggest recent findings of a Japanese study.  The study, published in the British Medical Journal, depicts how eating habits, not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to the obesity epidemic.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 400 million people are obese, 20 million of them younger than five years of age.

Researchers at Osaka University questioned more 3,000 Japanese volunteers between the ages of 30 to 69 about their eating habits.  Approximately half of the men and over half of the women said they ate until they felt full.  About 45 percent of men and 36 percent of women reported eating quickly.

Participants who reported eating until full and eating quickly were three times more likely to be overweight than people in the "not eating until full” and “not eating quickly" group.  Researchers cite inexpensive food and distractions such as watching television while eating as reasons for the findings.  Parents who are concerned about children’s eating habits should encourage kids to eat slowly and have meals in calm surroundings, researchers suggest.  

Trust for America's Health Offers Food Safety and Obesity Recommendations
As part of a 119-page report released October 23, 2008, the Trust for America's Health is suggesting 23 food safety-related points or suggestions including creation of a single food safety agency, review of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's current foodborne disease surveillance program and establishment of a National Obesity Prevention Advisory Board.

The report entitled, "Blueprint for a Healthier America: Modernizing the Federal Public Health System to Focus on Prevention and Preparedness" involved consultation with more than 150 prominent health experts and organizations for over a year.

The Trust for America's Health is a health advocacy group formed in 2001 whose staff and board of directors are academics, researchers and health officials.  Similar reports submitted previously have made recommendations for policy makers to provide better protection from bioterrorism and pandemic flu.

The group’s latest report covers topics ranging from investing in disease prevention as a foundation of health care reform to creation of an emergency health benefit to assist uninsured Americans during a disaster.

Lose Weight, Maintain Bone
New research suggests a diet emphasizing lean meat and low-fat dairy (as sources of protein and calcium) may lead to weight loss without bone loss.  Results of a new study found that weight loss diets rich in protein help maintain muscle mass, assist in lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, and help maintain body weight.  The study, “A High Dairy Protein, High-Calcium Diet Minimizes Bone Turnover in Overweight Adults during Weight Loss,” conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois, followed 130 overweight, middle aged adults and compared the results of a high protein diet rich in dairy products with a traditional weight loss diet based on the Food Guide Pyramid. 

Study participants also ate five servings of vegetables and two to three servings of fruit each day.  Researchers measured bone mineral content and density with DXA scans (a method of measuring bone density using X-rays of the body, lumbar spine, and hip) at the beginning of the study, two times during the study, and at the end of the 12 month study.  Findings of this study suggest it is feasible to diet without losing bone density.  Ellen Evans, A University of Illinois associate professor of kinesiology and community health stated, “This is an important finding because many people, especially women in mid-life are concerned about obesity and osteoporosis.  Furthermore, treating obesity often increases risk for osteoporosis.  Many people lose bone mass when they lose weight.” 

To read the entire study visit: http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/134/3/568
 
A Pomegranate a Day May Keep Arthritis Away
After giving the equivalent of 175 ml (approximately 1.5 cups) of pomegranate juice in the form of pomegranate extract to rabbits, researchers found the extract reduced inflammation, one of the most common symptoms of arthritis, by almost 50 percent.  Researchers on the study, published in the Journal of Inflammation, think the same results will carry over into humans.  If that belief holds true it could lead to new anti-inflammatory treatments without the current side effects of some anti-inflammatory drugs.  However, the researchers concluded that more research is needed to ascertain how the extract is absorbed into the blood stream. 

Visit:  www.journal-inflammation.com/content/5/1/9 to read the entire study.

Processed Tomatoes May be Healthier Than Fresh Tomatoes, New Research Finds
Despite recommendations that whole foods are better than processed foods, a new study finds the tomato may puree this idea.  Researchers at the University of Missouri fed rats processed vs. fresh tomatoes picked off the vine and found better cancer fighting benefits from the processed tomato products.  The study, published in the June issue of Cancer Research, found that when lycopene is linked with a compound called FruHis --- an organic carbohydrate found in dehydrated tomato products --- a stronger protective effect against prostate cancer results.  “It appears that the greatest protective effect from tomatoes comes from rehydrating tomato powder into tomato paste,” stated Valerie Mossine, research assistant professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.  She added, “Processing of many edible plants dramatically increases their nutritional value and cancer-fighting potential.”

Physical Activity May Decrease Cancer Risk, Suggests New Research
A new study, published in the August issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that regularly active Japanese adults, whether through exercise or work, are less likely to develop a variety of cancers.  The study followed almost 80,000 Japanese adults between the ages of 45 – 74 for nine years, and found that exercise was linked to a lower risk of colon, liver, pancreatic and stomach cancers.  They also found that the protective effect of exercise was strongest among men and women who were in the healthy weight range (Body Mass Index between 18.5 – 24.9).

According to the researchers, the risk of developing any type of cancer declined as the participants' activity levels increased.  Results showed men with the highest activity level were 13 percent less likely than men with the lowest activity level to develop cancer; the most-active women had a 16 percent lower cancer risk.  "Our results suggest that increased daily total physical activity -- not only exercise -- may be beneficial in preventing the development of cancer among Japanese men and women," said Dr. Manami Inoue, a researcher for Japan's National Cancer Center, in Tokyo.

Overweight Children May Be At Risk for More than Just Obesity
The American Liver Foundation estimates two to five percent of American children older than five, most being obese or overweight, have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that causes severe liver damage caused by too much body fat.  Some experts think almost twice that many children have the condition but have not been diagnosed, according to an article on cnn.com.  The condition, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure or liver cancer, is being diagnosed in children in the United States, Europe, Australia and a few developing countries, according to the American Liver Foundation. 

The disease is most common in overweight children with belly fat along with other diseases, such as diabetes, high cholesterol or heart problems.  According to the article, experts say the best way to combat the problem is early intervention.  However, it can be reversed through weight loss.  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is most prevalent among the Hispanic population and rare among African-Americans.  It is also more common in boys than girls.

"The majority of children with this still go undiagnosed," said Dr. Jeffrey Schwimmer, head of the Fatty Liver Clinic at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. "Some kids have died." The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends doctors do a blood test of liver enzymes every two years on overweight and obese children with high cholesterol or blood pressure or a family history of heart disease to screen for the disease.

New Study Suggests Adults Grow Wider As They Grow Older
Unfortunately, it seems as people age, they also grow…wider.  This may be due in part to a loss of muscle mass coupled with eating too many calories.  According to Julie Schwartz, a dietitian at the Emory University School of Medicine, "As we are aging, we can expect to lose a little bit of muscle mass every decade and when we lose muscle mass that means our metabolism goes down."  According to Schwartz, where on the body the weight is gained has to do with age and gender.  "Most women will really gain weight in their hips and thighs, then as women age and their hormones change, the tendency is to start depositing more in the mid-section as well as their hips," stated Schwartz.  This means aging likely changes where fat is deposited, shifting from a “pear” to an “apple” shape.

A recent Harvard University and National Institutes of Health study found that women with waist sizes of 35 inches or more and men with waist sizes of 40 inches or more stand a higher risk for cancer or heart disease compared to smaller waisted women and men.  According to the researchers, in 2004, more than half of the U.S. population had waist sizes that surpassed those parameters.  Schwartz advises that one of the best things women can do is to, "Stay active!"

Check out the Let’s Get Physical section of the Council’s website at: http://www.caloriecontrol.com/getphys.html, for more information on how to incorporate exercise into your life.

The Research Has Spoken: Industry Funded Studies Have Higher Quality of Reporting than Non-Industry Funded Studies in Long Term Weight Loss Trials
Recently, many questions have been raised about the validity of industry funded research results.  Approximately 2/3 of long-term weight loss studies are paid for by the industry and a recent research study, published in the August issue of the International Journal of Obesity, has evaluated the quality of industry vs. non-industry related research.  The study, “Industry funding and the reporting quality of large long-term weight loss trials” found that, “industry funding is associated with higher reporting quality.”  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between the funding source for research and the quality of reporting (QR) of long-term obesity randomized clinical trials.

The authors analyzed studies of long-term weight loss trials that conducted from 1966 – 2003.  Authors of the current study used the CONSORT checklist to assess QR.  The CONSORT checklist is considered the medical industry standard of reporting and contains parameters used to evaluate the methods of research trials.  Results found that the QR tended to be higher for industry funded studies compared to non-industry funded studies and that industry funded studies are associated with a higher QR on average.  The researchers note “A benefit of the greater funding offered by industry, the greater scrutiny of industry, or perhaps the greater concern or training of industry personnel for rigorous reporting may be an enhancement of the overall reporting quality in the literature, at least for long-term weight loss studies.”

Universities Aim to Rid Campuses of Cafeteria Trays
This fall, thousands of university students will have to navigate cafeteria dining halls without a cafeteria tray.  In an effort to reduce food waste and energy costs, as well as contribute to environmental sustainability, colleges and universities around the country are disposing of cafeteria trays.  The schools cite aimless overindulgence as a main reason for the change and believe students will use fewer dishes and waste less food without a tray to fill corner to corner. 

A report released by Aramark Higher Education Food Services last July states, “Students waste approximately 25 to 30 percent less food when they don’t have a tray to carry it on.”  Monica Zimmer, a spokeswoman for Sodexo, stated, "Dining facilities on campuses take up to five times more water, five times more energy, five times more waste per square foot than the dorm.”  George Mason University is taking matters even further.  This September, the school will open Southside, a dining hall which is 95 percent sustainable.

New Study Finds Toxins in Some Herbal Medicines
A new study, published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that almost 21 percent of plant based herbal medicines actually contain lead, mercury or arsenic.  These substances have been linked to cancer and damage to kidneys and the brain, according to study author, Robert Saper of the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center.

Herbal medications are used by adults to treat problems such as indigestion, infertility, and depression.  About 4 percent of the 193 products tested in the study were labeled for use in children.

The products used in the study were purchased on the Internet, according to the study author.  In a similar 2004 study, Saper also found lead, mercury and arsenic in 20 percent of plant based herbal supplements sold in Boston-area stores. “Although the FDA currently doesn't specify how much lead is permitted in these products, it can pull products off the market if they're found to be unsafe. The FDA, for example, banned Ayurvedic products cited in Saper's 2004 study.”

Joggers May Have Winning Health Benefits
A new study, published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that regular jogging or any consistent aerobic exercise during middle age and older may help improve health and increase longevity.

The study followed two groups, runners and non runners, over two decades starting in 1984.  Dr. Eliza F. Chakravarty, an immunologist and rheumatologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, along with her research team, studied 538 people aged 50 and older who ran regularly, along with a control group of 423 people who never ran. 
Results showed the “runner” group had improved exercise capacity, better cardiovascular fitness, increased bone mass, and improved thinking, learning and memory.  They also lived longer. 

The study also found that the health benefits continued as running ceased or decreased.  As some participants discontinued running and took up other activities, the health benefits from running or jogging endured.  According to Chakravarty, “although the study focused on runners, the benefits appear to accrue from any intense aerobic exercise.”  The study also found no significant difference between the joint conditions of runners vs. non runners.  Results of this study suggest it’s never too late to start an exercise program. 

Source: Time, August 12, 2008, Archives of Internal Medicine, August 2008

New Study Finds Weight Loss May Be Associated with Bone Loss
A new study, published in the journal of the American College of Nutrition suggests that changes in bone metabolism may continue after weight loss stops.  In the study, 37 obese adults aged 50 and older followed a very low-calorie diet for three months.  The participants were then tracked for nine months where they increased calorie intake to a level sufficient for weight maintenance.

Researchers found that even after the dieters stopped losing weight and entered the "weight maintenance" phase, changes in bone turnover remained.  Research has shown that even moderate weight loss can cause a disruption in this balance, leading to a loss of bone mass.  In the current study, researchers found that the balance was restored when weight loss stopped.  However, the overall rate of bone turnover increased during weight loss, and persisted once their weight was stabilized.

"Accelerated bone remodeling is thought to be an independent risk factor for bone fracture," stated lead researcher, Dr. Pamela Hinton, associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Missouri in Columbia.  However, Hinton also noted that long-term studies were still needed to see how weight loss affects actual bone density and fracture risk.  Some evidence suggests that high calcium intake, 1,500 to 1,800 milligrams per day, slows bone loss and adverse effects on bone turnover as weight is lost.

Source: Reuters Health, August 7, 2008, American College of Nutrition, 2008
 
Could All U.S. Adults Be Overweight in 40 Years?
The answer is yes, according to a new government funded study published in the journal Obesity.  The study was based on government survey data collected between the 1970s and 2004.  Presently, two-thirds of the population is overweight and according to the study, if the trends found during the past three decades continue, theoretically all U.S. adults could be at least mildly overweight by the year 2048.  "Genetically and physiologically, it should be impossible" for all U.S. adults to become overweight despite predictions from the current study, said Dr. Lan Liang of the federal government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, one of the researchers on the study. 

Some groups of U.S. adults have even higher rates of overweight and obesity, such as African American women where 78 percent are overweight or obese, researchers say.  The study projects that African Americans and Mexican Americans will be most affected if this trend continues.  Consumers should expect healthcare costs to expand in direct relation to expanding waistlines.  Liang and her colleagues used census data and current healthcare costs related to excess weight gain to predict healthcare costs in the coming years.  They estimate that healthcare costs directly related to increasing weight gain should double in each coming decade to reach $957 billion in the year 2030.
 
The findings only highlight the need for interventions in the way of lifestyle changes and education.  “Simply telling people to eat less and exercise more is not enough,” said Liang.  “Broader social changes are needed as well, such as making communities more pedestrian-friendly so that people can walk regularly, or getting the food industry to offer healthier, calorie-conscious choices.”  Visit the Calorie Control Council’s website at www.caloriecontrol.org for more information on calorie conscious food choices and physical activity information. 

Source: Reuters Health, August 6, 2008, Obesity, July 2008

Nutrient-Dense Supplement May Assist People Who are Overweight
People who are overweight may benefit from taking a daily portion-controlled, nutrient-dense food supplement, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Department of Health and Exercise Science, University Of Oklahoma.  According to the study findings, after ten weeks of supplementation, the group of overweight volunteers had "significantly decreased total energy, carbohydrate and fat intake", as well as increased protein and fiber intake.  The study examined physiological response of participants to an exercise program combined with daily supplementation with a commercially-available high-protein/low-carbohydrate and low-fat, nutrient-dense food supplement.

Source: Nutra Ingredients, May 20, 2008; Nutrition & Metabolism 2008

People who Consume Popcorn Consume More Whole Grains
A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found the people who consumer popcorn also consume a 250 percent higher intake of whole grains (2.5 versus 0.70 servings per day) and approximately 22 percent higher intake of fiber (18.1 versus 14.9 grams per day).  To investigate the role of popcorn in the US diet, Grandjean and her team looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999-2002, in which a nationally representative sample of 15,506 Americans reported what they had eaten in the past 24 hours.  Six percent of the study participants had eaten popcorn in the past day.   Researchers also found that popcorn eaters also had higher overall grain consumption and lower meat consumption. Popcorn eaters also got more magnesium and carbohydrates than non-popcorn eaters. More studies are needed, researchers conclude, to confirm the findings and to determine if eating popcorn can indeed help increase people's whole grain intake over time.

Source: Reuters Health, May 15, 2008; Journal of the American Dietetic Association, May 2008

France Reports Leveling Childhood Obesity Rates
Childhood obesity may be leveling in France in contrast to the general trend in Europe where more youngsters are growing fat, according to two new studies presented Thursday. Researchers say they are yet unable to link changes in public health policies to the stabilising trend, but stress that an increased awareness of the obesity problem may have had some impact. The studies presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Geneva also show that children from poorer socio-economic backgrounds are more prone to fat.  France has moved to introduce measures to combat childhood fat, with vending machines banned in schools since 2005"There has been an increased awareness of the issue of obesity in children and it's possible that this general awareness has had some impact," said Katia Castetbon, who heads the nutritional epidemiology and surveillance unit at the French National Institute for Health Surveillance.

Source: Yahoo News, May 15, 2008

High Protein Diet May Assist Women in Long-Term Weight Loss
Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates a diet high in protein may assist in long term-weight loss.  The study found that middle-aged women who followed a high-protein diet compared with those who followed a low-protein diet lost more weight over a 1-year study period.  Whether this was actually due to the protein per se or the fact that those women best able to restrict calories chose high protein foods, is not known," lead investigator Dr. Peter M. Clifton of Adelaide University told Reuters Health.  Regardless of protein levels, Clifton added, "even small amounts of weight loss at 12 months were associated with considerable benefits in terms of lipids."  Among those women that lost weight, there was a 20 percent increase in HDL levels, “the good cholesterol.” 

Source: Reuters Health, January 29, 2008; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2008

Study Indicates Weight Loss is Difficult When Exercise is Inconsistent
Weight gain caused by inconsistent bouts of exercise is not easily lost by resuming a previous exercise routine, suggests a study published in the February 2008 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.  The study found that weight gain among men and women who decreased their running distances per week was significantly more than weight loss among men and women who increased their running distances per week by the same amount.  you stop exercising with the intention of starting again later, you don't get to pick up where you left off," said lead researcher Paul Williams, PhD.. "You're likely to gain weight and get stuck with it unless you exercise a lot more. It's an ounce of prevention or a pound of cure, literally.”

Source: Medical News Today, February 4, 2008; Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, February 2008

Sedenary Lifestyles May Promote the Aging Process
A new study indicates inactivity may not only promote obesity related to diseases such heart disease and diabetes, but may also increase the aging process.  The authors conclude, relating this to daily life. The study found that participants with sedenatary lifestyles had reduced telomere length contributing to an average loss of 21 nucleotides (the basic structural units of DNA) per year. The authors suggest a few mechanisms by which more sedentary lifestyles might contribute to telomere degeneration. One could be damage to cells caused by exposure to oxygen, called oxidative stress. Increased inflammation in sedentary persons may also create this effect Additionally, telomere length has been linked to perceived stress levels. This psychological stress may be reduced by physical activity, thus lessening its severity on telomeres and the aging process"The U.S. guidelines recommend that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days a week can have significant health benefits," state the authors. "Our results underscore the vital importance of these guidelines. They show that adults who partake in regular physical activity are biologically younger than sedentary individuals. This conclusion provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to promote the potential anti-aging effect of regular exercise."

Source: Medical News Today, February 2, 2008; Archives of Internal Medicine, January 28, 2008

Study Indicates Prebiotics May Help Prevent Weight Gain Among Teens
A daily supplement of prebiotic inulin and oligofructose may help adolescents maintain an appropriate body weight and BMI, according to new research in the Journal of Pediatrics. The research adds to an ever-growing body of science on the health benefits of inulin and oligofructose, ranging from boosting bone health and reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, to potential benefits for the immune system, weight management, and intestinal health. The study found that the adolescents receiving the prebiotic supplement had a smaller BMI increase compared with the placebo group, with an average BMI difference of 0.52 kg per sq. m.“We found that supplementation with a prebiotic, in addition to its benefit to bone mineralization, had a significant benefit in the maintenance of an appropriate BMI increase during pubertal growth in primarily non-obese young adolescents," wrote lead author Steven Abrams.

Source: Food Navigator, October 2, 2007; Journal of Pediatrics, September 2007

New Study Examines Obese Pregnant Women
Obese women who gain little or no weight during pregnancy are at lower risk for high blood pressure, have fewer cesarean sections and more likely to have a normal weight baby, finds a new study published in the October 2007 issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.  Researchers from the St. Louis School of Medicine examined data from more than 12,000 obese pregnant women living in Missouri and ranked the women in three levels of obesity – from heavy to heaviest.  The results indicate that the least-heavy obese women had best outcomes when they gained 10 to 25 pounds.  The next heavier group of obese women had the best outcomes if they gained zero to 10 pounds.  The heaviest group had the best outcome when they lost weight during pregnancy.  The fear has been that not gaining weight would have a deleterious effect on the fetus," said Dr. Raul Artal, study author and chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.  "The fear has been that not gaining weight would have a deleterious effect on the fetus," said Dr. Raul Artal, study author and chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.  “Not only were there no deleterious effects, but there are benefits. Women, by not gaining weight in pregnancy, reduce their risk of hypertensive disorder, have less C-sections and have babies of normal weight."

Source: Associated Press, October 2, 2007; Obstetrics and Gynecology, October 2007

Obesity and Lifestyle Factors May Increase Lymphoma Risk
A person’s body weight and lifestyle factors such smoking can increase a person’s risk for developing Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, suggests a new study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  Results from the study, published in the September 2007 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, indicate morbid obesity -- defined as having a body mass index greater than 35 -- and being tall also raised the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Current smokers and those who had recently quit (less than 4 years prior) had a significantly higher risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma compared with never smokers.  Research conducted more than two decades ago estimated that "modifiable" lifestyle factors, like drinking, smoking and a Western diet, may account for two thirds of all cancers not related to genetics, the study team notes. "Subsequent studies have confirmed the estimate and added the contribution of obesity and physical inactivity," note Dr. Unhee Lim of the National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, and colleagues.

Source: Reuters Health, October 1, 2007; American Journal of Epidemiology, September 15, 2007

New Survey Reveals Dieting a Constant Concern
For more than 95 million American adults, dieting is a constant concern, reveals a new national survey released this week.  Nearly two-thirds (62%) of people trying to control weight think about dieting year-round and that number is even higher among dieters (70%). 

Although the percentage of people who are dieting has declined (from 33 percent in 2004 to 29 percent in 2007), the number of dieting attempts is on the rise.  In 2004, on average, just 2.5 dieting attempts were made by dieters during the year, compared with almost four attempts made in 2007 – a significant increase. In more than 15 years, this is the greatest number of dieting attempts made by dieters in a one-year period, according to the Calorie Control Council, which has been tracking dieting and weight control habits in the U.S. since 1984.

Although 9 out of 10 (88%) dieters say they have been successful in losing weight, 46 percent say they need to lose 10 pounds or more (also a significant increase since 2004).  So, with the number of dieting attempts and people saying they need to lose weight escalating, and with dieting being a year-round obsession for many, just what are people doing to control their weight?  Among dieters, cutting down on foods high in sugar remains the top weight control strategy at 87 percent.  Other methods include:

• Exercise (83%)
• Eating smaller portions of favorite foods (82%)
• Using low-calorie, reduced-sugar and sugar-free foods and beverages (80%)

Combining calorie reduction with exercise (73%)

For more information, please visit: http://www.caloriecontrol.org/pr_08092007-b.html.

Observational Study Alleges Increased Risk for Heart Disease Among Those Who Consume Diet Soda
A recent observational study reported in the journal Circulation alleges an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (which can lead to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes) for those who consume diet soda.

However, this conclusion does not reflect the extensive scientific literature confirming the safety and benefits of low-calorie sweeteners and the products that contain them.  The study authors note in the paper, “Individuals with greater intake of soft drinks also have a dietary pattern characterized by greater intake of calories and saturated and trans fats, lower consumption of fiber and dairy products and a sedentary life.”  Experts agree that factors such as caloric imbalance and sedentary lifestyle are related to weight gain, heart disease and metabolic syndrome.  Further the researchers note, “Given the observational nature of the present study, we cannot infer that the observed associations are causal.  As noted above, it is conceivable that residual confounding by lifestyle/dietary factors not adjusted for may have contributed to the metabolic risks associated with soft drink intake.”

The American Heart Association (AHA) notes regarding the study, “Since this is an observational study, it is important to note that the study does not show that soft drinks cause risk factors for heart disease.”  AHA adds: “Diet soda can be a good option to replace caloric beverages that do not contain important vitamins and minerals. The American Heart Association supports dietary patterns that include low-calorie beverages like water, diet soft drinks, and fat-free or low-fat milk as better choices than full calorie soft drinks.”

Previous research has shown that consuming low-calorie foods and beverages not only aids in facilitating weight loss, but also weight control.  Experts agree that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of heart diabetes, diabetes, and other risks associated with obesity.

For more information, please visit: http://www.caloriecontrol.org/pr_072507.html.

NZFSA Supports Safety of Aspartame
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) recently issued a statement saying recent concerns about the safety of aspartame are not justified and noted, "Aspartame is probably one of the most studied products on sale today, and there is an extensive body of evidence that tells us it is a safe product that offers consumers a sweet low-calorie option in their diet,” says Sandra Daly, NZFSA’s Deputy Chief Executive. In addition, Daly also noted, "NZFSA continually assesses the weight of sound, scientific evidence that surrounds the use of all products, including aspartame. We can find no scientific basis for claims that the product is not safe to consume in sensible quantities."

Source: New Zealand Food Safety Authority, July 6, 2007

Childhood Obesity Task Force Extends Deadline
A government task force examining the effect the media might have on childhood obesity is delaying the release of its report Thursday. Sens. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, along with FCC chairman Kevin Martin, said they expect the committee to finish its work in the fall instead of midsummer as originally planned. Recent proposals like the promise the Kellogg Co. made in June to adopt nutrition standards for the products it markets to children or to cease marketing them altogether have given the committee pause, said an FCC official. Members of the task force wanted time to digest the moves in order to make informed decisions, aides said. It is vital that the task force address the critical issues of achieving a balance in food/beverage advertising, the use of licensed characters, as well as innovative media initiatives to help reduce the rates of childhood obesity in this country," the senators wrote. "We look forward to the Task Force's report and commend their efforts in this area."

Source: Reuters Health, July 6, 2007

Study Indicates Many Diets Produce Similar Results
A new study indicates that most diets yield similar results, according to researchers at the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. A typical diet helps people lose an average of 6 percent of their weight, typically 10 to 15 pounds, and most people put it all back on after five years. Weight loss drugs are similarly ineffective in the long run, said Dr. Michael Dansinger. Programs that made people eat fewer calories worked better, as did those that involved more frequent visits to either diet groups or to a counselor's office. But there is good news — even a small, temporary weight loss can benefit health. The only commercial program included in the study was Weight Watchers. Most were government or university-sponsored programs. No studies that included food or shakes were included because they did not include a non-dieting group for comparison.

Source: MSNBC, July 2, 2007

Fatty acid Supplement May Aid Weight Loss
A new study indicates supplements containing the fatty acid conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may help the body shed excess fat. The fatty acid CLA can be found in products such as beef, lamb and dairy. Animal research has suggested that CLA can help melt away body fat, but studies in humans have yielded mixed conclusions.

The new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, combined data from 18 previous studies on CLA in order to analyze the body of evidence. It found that, when given at a dose of 3.2 grams per day, CLA appeared moderately effective at promoting body fat loss.

People who took CLA lost an extra 0.2 pounds of fat per week compared with study participants given a placebo, or inactive pill. The effect is "modest," according to the study authors, but still meaningful, considering the tendency of the average U.S. adult to gain weight with each passing year.

Source: Reuters Health, May 31, 2007

Diet High in Carbohydrates May Elevate Blood Pressure
People whose diets are rich in carbohydrates may have slightly higher blood pressure than those whose diets are rich in monounsaturated fats, according to the findings from researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.  The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined 10 published studies and compared high-carbohydrate and high-monounsaturated fat diets to better understand their effects on blood pressure. The results of the authors' mathematical model revealed that the carbohydrate-rich diets led to a significantly higher blood pressure compared with the diets rich in monounsaturated fat. However, the difference is not enough to justify making recommendations to change the carbohydrate and monounsaturated fat content of the diets to control blood pressure.

 Source: Reuters Health, May 29, 2007

Overweight Infants Likely to be Overweight Later in Life
Babies who are born heavy and grow fast have a 150 percent chance of being overweight or obese by the time they are seven years old, a survey shows. Obesity has long been associated with a person's lifestyle and dietary habits, but the study shows it might just as well be dependent on "epigenetics" -- factors such as genes, and the eating habits and lifestyle of parents and grandparents, said researchers at the University of Hong Kong.  More than 8,300 children were involved in the study and the children were monitored several times throughout their childhood.  Of the 8,300 children involved in the study, 800 are now overweight or obese.  "What we have shown here is that babies who are born big and who have grown fast have a higher risk of being overweight or obese at age 7," Schooling said.

Source: Reuters, May 29, 2007

Overwhelming Scientific Evidence Supports Safety of Aspartame
The Calorie Control Council stated that an unpublished rat study conducted by Italy’s Ramazzini Institute and presented today to media is totally contradictory to the extensive scientific research and regulatory reviews conducted on aspartame. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has said they are not recommending any changes in the use of aspartame ... The allegations made by Ramazzini are at complete odds with the wealth of scientific literature demonstrating that aspartame is safe and not a carcinogen. A recent study conducted by Italian and French researchers in humans and published in the Annals of Oncology in 2006 demonstrates no association between aspartame and cancer.

Just last week, on April 20, 2007, FDA issued a statement that it has completed a review of the Ramazzini study, concluding that the study data made available to them by the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) “do not appear to support the aspartame-related findings reported by ERF.” FDA added, “These data do not provide evidence to alter FDA's conclusion that the use of aspartame is safe.”

In its statement, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fpaspar2.html, FDA noted: “Based on our review, pathological changes were incidental and appeared spontaneously in the study animals, and none of the histopathological changes reported appear to be related to treatment with aspartame.”

Source: Calorie Control Council; U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Research Indicates Longevity Gene May be Linked to Low-Calorie Diet
Researchers have found a gene in roundworms that may increase longevity of life by consuming less food. Roundworms are excellent subjects for longevity research because they usually only live three weeks, making any increment in lifespan quickly apparent, according to the New York Times. In order to create a drug that would stimulate the life-extension mechanism, researchers first need to identify the genetic pathway through which the mechanism is set off so that possible drugs can be tested first in mice and then, perhaps, in people. In what may prove to be a major clarification of the issue, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies reported in a recent issue of the journal Nature the existence of a life-extending genetic pathway, which they believe is the one naturally set off by dietary restriction.

Source: New York Times, May 3, 2007

Obesity Canada Releases Childhood Obesity Prevention Guidelines
Obesity Canada’s evidence-based guidelines on the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity were released in April 2007. The guidelines recommend ongoing follow-up of overweight and obese children by qualified health professionals and a multi-sectoral approach that targets all age groups from infancy to the senior years. The guidelines also under score the importance of enhancing undergraduate training programs and professional continuing education to better address the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to enable health practitioners, including dietitians, to be more effective counselors and health promoters with respect to obesity prevention and treatment.

Source: Obesity Canada, April 26, 2007; Medical News Today, April 26, 2007

New Study Confirms Safety of Aspartame
A new study conducted by Italian and French researchers, and published in the Annals of Oncology, concluded there is no association between low-calorie sweetener consumption and cancer.  The researchers evaluated a variety of studies between the years of 1991 and 2004.  These studies assessed the relationship between low-calorie sweeteners and many cancers including oral and pharynx, esophagus, colon, rectum, larynx, breast, ovary, prostate and renal cell carcinomas.  The researchers examined the eating habits of more than 7,000 middle-aged men and women (mainly 55 years and over).  Based on the data evaluated, the authors noted, “In conclusion, therefore, this study provides no evidence that saccharin or other sweeteners (mainly aspartame) increase the risk of cancer at several common sites in humans.”

Study Indicates Food Advertisements on Television Target Children
A recent study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that children between the ages 8-12 see the most food ads on TV, an average of 21 ads a day, or more than 7,600 a year. Teenagers see slightly fewer ads, at 17 a day, for a total of more than 6,000 a year. For a variety of reasons - because they watch less TV overall, and more of their viewing is on networks that have limited or no advertising, such as PBS and Disney - children ages 2-7 see the least number of food ads, at 12 food ads a day, or 4,400 a year. Of all food ads in the study that target children or teens, 34% are for candy and snacks, 28% are for cereal, and 10% are for fast foods. Four percent are for dairy products and 1% for fruit juices. Of the 8,854 ads reviewed in the study, there were none for fruits or vegetables targeting children or teens.  “The vast majority of the foods that kids see advertised on television today are for products that nutritionists would tell us they need to be eating less of, not more of, if we're going to get a handle on childhood obesity," said Vicki Rideout of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, March 28, 2007

Dutch Scientists Hope to Create Foods That Prevent Obesity
Scientists in the Netherlands are developing a new generation of foods that can help prevent obesity by making people eat less, a research institute said on Thursday.  The Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), funded by the Dutch government and food groups like CSM Anglo-Dutch Unilever, is also developing food ingredients which can stop an obese person from developing diabetes.  "We are working on certain food ingredients, which provoke more satiety than others do on the long run, so that our partners can use them in food manufacturing," said Professor Robert-Jan Brummer, program director at TIFN.  "These products should trigger satiety and stop us eating more and more. They should also meet our dietary requirements, have a very good taste and be enjoyable to eat," he told Reuters.

Source: Reuters, March 22, 2007

Study Indicates Increased TV Watching May Cause Poor Dietary Habits
A study presented at the American Heart Association’s 47th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention indicates poor dietary habits are associated with increased TV or video viewing, patterns associated with obesity and cardiovascular problems. Increased TV watching was associated with increased intakes of less healthful foods and nutrients, and the researchers said it was also associated with decreased intakes of more healthful foods and nutrients, including fruits and vegetables, calcium and dietary fiber. “We don’t really know from this observational study whether kids are substituting unhealthful foods for the more healthful ones. All we can say is that we see a pattern of less healthful foods and nutrients with increased TV use," said Matthew Gillman, M.D., S.M., senior author and associate professor of ambulatory care and prevention and director of the Obesity Prevention Program for Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health

Source: American Heart Association, February 28, 2007

Study Suggests Children More Likely to Gain Weight During Summer
A new study found that kids are gaining more weight in the summer than the school year. The findings suggest that school-based measures -- like getting rid of vending machines or requiring more gym class -- are not enough to fight childhood obesity. Researchers from Ohio State University in Columbus followed nearly 5,400 children from kindergarten through first grade, and found that kids tended to gain weight more quickly during summer vacation than during the school year. This was especially true for children already at risk for gaining weight such as African-American and Hispanic children as well as those that were already overweight.

Source: Reuters Health, February 28, 2007

Consumers in Britain Growing More Health Conscious
According to a poll from Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), healthy eating is a growing concern for consumers in Britain, with many people checking labels for nutritional information as well as increasing their awareness of the need for five portions of fruit and vegetables in their diet every day. The FSA said it was encouraged that salt was mentioned by over half of the more than 3,500 people surveyed and fat and sugar each by more than two-fifths of respondents when prompted with a list of possible concerns. A large number of consumers said they looked at nutritional information on food labels to check the fat and salt content.

Source: Reuters Health, February 22, 2007

Large Groups Cause Children to Eat More
The finding sheds light on the problem of child obesity. University of Michigan researchers assessed the eating habits of 54 pre-school children aged between two and a half and six and a half. Accompanied by their regular classroom teachers, but discreetly filmed by two cameras, the children were given a snack of whole-wheat biscuits and offered a drink of milk, juice or water. If the snack time was relatively short, the children ate slightly more in a group of nine than when they were in a group of three. But if the snack time was long, they ate almost 30 percent more on average in the larger group than when they were in the smaller group. Social arousal -- noise and group activity -- are the likely drivers for the higher consumption, say the authors.

Source: Agency France-Presse, February 14, 2007

Study Indicates Napping May Reduce Risk for Heart Disease
A new study indicates that napping may reduce one’s risk for heart disease. The study examined more than 23,000 people from Greece with no history of heart disease, stroke or cancer and followed participants for more than 6 years. Results indicate that a midday nap may reduce the risk for heart disease by more than 37 percent among those that nap at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes.

Source: WebMD, February 13, 2007

New Study Supports the Safety of Aspartame
A recent study published in the Annals of Oncology indicates that low-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin do not cause several types of cancer. This study included approximately 7,000 individuals with various types of cancers and over 7,000 individuals who did not have cancer. Researchers tracked the rates of consumption of the participants and found that there were no associations found between consumption of saccharine, aspartame and other sweeteners and the development of several common types of cancer.

Source: CancerConsultants.com, February 1, 2007

Exercise is Important for Older Dieters
For older adults who want to lose weight, exercise may be even more important than cutting calories, new research suggests. In a study of 34 adults in their 50s and 60s, researchers found that both dieters and exercisers lost weight. The exercise group, however, did so while maintaining their muscle mass, strength and fitness levels, whereas dieters showed declines in all these measures. Findings from the study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, suggest that exercise has added benefits over dieting alone.

Source: Associated Press, November 27, 2006

Yo-yo Dieting May Increase Men’s Gallstone Risk
A recent study shows men who repeatedly lose, then regain 20 or more pounds through dieting are up to 76 percent more likely to develop gallstones later in life than men who maintain a constant weight. In the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed data on nearly 25,000 men who participated in another recent study. The men provided information on weight fluctuations from 1988 to 1992 and were followed from 1992 to 2002 for gallstones.

Results from the study indicate gallstones were more likely in men whose weight fluctuated more than 5 pounds than those who maintained a constant weight, and the risk of gallstones increased with the degree of weight fluctuation.

Source: WebMD, November 27, 2006

Overconsumption During Holidays Causes College Students to Gain Weight
A recent study from the University of Oklahoma examined the effects of holiday eating on college students, weighing 94 students the week before Thanksgiving and within a week of their return to classes — a span of roughly 12 days. Students gained an average of 1.1 pounds. Of the 94 students in her study, 84 came back for a third weigh-in after the winter break in mid-January. Most of the extra "Thanksgiving pound" had disappeared for normal-weight students, but not for those who started out overweight.

Source: Associated Press, November 26, 2006

College Women More Likely to Diet Than Men
A recent study from the University of Nebraska Lincoln found college women to be more weight-conscious and more likely to diet than college men.  Among men, 45.2 percent were overweight or obese, compared to 13.9 percent of women. But 57.4 percent of the women said they needed to lose weight, compared to 28.6 percent of the men. Women were also more likely than men to say they ate too much sugar (59.7 percent vs 41.9 percent), and to say that it's important to limit carbohydrate consumption (46.4 percent vs 27.6 percent). Among the women, 71.4 percent agreed that it is important to eat less fat to lose weight, while 52.4 percent of the men held this opinion. Among men, 79.1 percent said they had never tried dieting, compared to 65.6 percent of women.  These findings are in agreement with reports of women's tendency to hold stronger beliefs related to nutrition than men," Dr. Judy A. Driskell of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and colleagues write. "Though men have some sensitivity to body fat, women are much more sensitive." 

Source: Reuters Health, October 16, 2006

Diet and Exercise Best Combination for Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance
A study from the Department of Health and Human Services in Tasmania, Australia indicates exercise is an effective weight loss method but those who want to keep the weight off must incorporate dietary changes as well. Low- and high-intensity exercise were equally effective in helping people slim down when combined with dietary changes, lead researcher Dr. Kelly Shaw and her team found, but when people relied on exercise alone for weight loss, higher intensity workouts were more effective. The researchers also found that exercise reduced blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose, while increasing levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, whether or not people lost weight.

Source: Reuters Health, October 27, 2006

Institute of Medicine to Release National Exercise Guidelines
The federal government will begin to work on national exercise guidelines, to be completed in 2008, according to the Associated Press. Although most people know they should eat less and exercise more, scientific guidelines can help motivate people. "If we can have the best science brought to bear and you can put out guidelines that would be age-specific, something for school, something for home, you could end up with something that might be useful" said Dr. Douglas Kamerow, a member of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Childhood Obesity.

Source: Associated Press, October 26, 2006

American Calorie Consumption Increased Over 15 Years
Research from Tufts University indicates Americans are eating as many as 350 calories more a day than they did 15 years ago. This calorie increase is partly due to the selection of tempting, high calorie foods Americans face daily in grocery stores, vending machines and restaurants. Restrictive weight loss plans that forbid certain food choices or restrict entire food groups work in the short term because a person eats less of a food that has been eaten repeatedly. The problem is that the desire for a variety of tastes does not go away just because food choices have been restricted

Source: Auburn Citizen, October 11, 2006

Meta-Analysis Indicates Aspartame Effective for Weight Loss
Foods and beverages sweetened with aspartame can help consumers lose weight, according to a recent review of previous aspartame studies published in the June issue of the British Nutrition Foundation Nutrition Bulletin.  Researchers examined 16 randomized controlled trials of aspartame and its effect on caloric intake and body weight.  Fifteen of the studies used energy intake as an outcome measure.  The estimated rate of weight loss for the 16 studies was approximately 0.4 pounds per week.  “Strategies to reverse the upward trend in obesity rates need to focus on both reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure," explained lead author Anne de la Hunty. "The use of intense sweeteners as a substitute for sucrose potentially offers one way of helping people to reduce the energy density of their diet without any loss of palatability."  This recent review indicates that aspartame, as part of an overall healthy diet, can help consumers cut calories and lose weight.

More information is available at the American Council on Science and Health’s Web site at: http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsID.832/news_detail.asp. 

Recent Study Indicates Small Changes May Help Combat Childhood Obesity
A recent study indicates small changes in the diet may help prevent excessive weight gain in children. The study, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, found that eliminating 100 calories from the diet using products such as Splenda (a low-calorie sweeteners containing sucralose) and adding 2,000 steps a day may help children lose or maintain weight. Dr. James O. Hill, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of the America on the Move Foundation’s, “Families on the Move,” Program created to combat rising childhood obesity rates. Researchers examined more than 200 families, all of which had at least one overweight child between the ages of 7 and 14 years. One hundred and eleven families followed the “Families on the Move Program,” cutting 100 calories from the diet by using Splenda and adding 2,000 steps a day. Ninety-five families served as the control group and were self-monitored their usual calorie and activity levels. After six months, 43 of the children following the “Families on the Move Program” lost or maintained weight. However, half of the children in the control group increased their body mass index (BMI). “I think a small change approach is the only way we’re going to get a handle on childhood obesity,” said Hill.

Source: Reuters Health, May 1, 2006

Study Indicates Doctors and Patients Have Different Views on Body Size and Health
Patients and doctors have differing opinions when it comes to body size and losing weight, according to a study from Yale University School of Nursing. The study indicates that when doctors tell patients they are overweight they are referring to body size and health but patients believe doctors simply have different ideas about attractiveness, sexual desirability and self-esteem. “There is such a disconnect between what we healthcare providers mean when we talk about obesity and overweight, and what those concepts mean to different people,” said Yale doctoral student Maryanne Davidson, MSN, RN, SPNP. Davidson and Kathleen A. Knafl, PhD with Oregon Health & Science University analyzed 20 papers from 18 different studies regarding patients’ concepts of obesity.

In addition, Davidson and Knafl interviewed obese children and their parents and asked the children about their experiences related to being obese. When the children admitted being teased, parents made excuses for the children such as “It’s in the genes.” Once the parents were informed about health issues affecting obese children, they were more concerned and began to take action. Researchers concluded that conversations about obesity must focus on health rather than weight itself.

Source: WebMD, April 27, 2006

Lead researcher Dr. Dennis T. Villareal and colleagues concluded diet and exercise “should be considered as primary therapy in frail, obese older adults.”

Source: Reuters Health, May 1st, 2006

Weight Loss May Reduce Frailty and Improve Health Among Obese Seniors
A recent study indicates obese adults in their 60s and 70s can improve physical function and reduce frailty with moderate weight loss. The study, published in the April 24th edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine, assigned 27 frail, obese adults to 26 weeks of diet and exercise (treatment group). Another group received no treatment (control group). In addition to monitoring calorie intake and exercise, the treatment group attended weekly weight loss meetings and participated in exercise training three times a week for six months. The treatment group also maintained an energy deficit of 750 calories per day. After six months, the treatment group lost an average of 8.4 percent of their body weight while the control group did not lose any weight. The treatment group reported improvements in physical function, muscle strength, walking speed, endurance and balance.

New NCI Study Indicates Aspartame Does Not Increase Risk of Cancer
The low-calorie sweetener, aspartame, does not increase the risk of leukemias, lymphomas or brain tumors, suggests a recent study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  The study involved more than a half a million Americans, ages 50 to 69. Participants filled out surveys detailing food and beverage consumption in 1995 and 1996, and researchers calculated the amount of aspartame each person consumed over the period of two years.  Researchers found there was no link between aspartame consumption for these cancers in general or for specific types, even among people who consumed numerous diet beverages sweetened with aspartame every day.

The study confirms the findings of a recent 2005 report, Review of Lymphatic and Hematopoietic Cancer Incidence Trends & Consumption of Aspartame, in which researchers concluded, upon examining cancer trends from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program there is no consistent pattern (of leukemias or lymphomas) that parallels the rise in aspartame consumption.   Further, the findings also support those of three recent animal studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) designed to evaluate whether aspartame is capable of causing cancer. 

Source: Associated Press, April 4, 2006

Global Obesity Rates Expected to Soar by 2010
Experts predict childhood obesity rates around the globe will increase significantly if the present trend continues.  Researchers from the International Obesity Task Force predict nearly half of the children in North and South America and 38 percent of children in the European Union will be overweight by the year 2010.  The report, published in the March issue of the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, predicts obesity rates will rise significantly in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as well.  Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Egypt have rates comparable to fully industrialized nations, according to Dr. Phillip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force and author of an editorial in the journal.  Researchers analyzed medical obesity reports from 1980 to 2005 and data from the World Health Organization (WHO).  Analyzing the data, researchers tracked the growth of obesity rates around the world.  “We have a truly global epidemic which appears to be affecting most countries around the world,” said James. 

Source: International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, March 2006; Associated Press, March 7, 2006

Study Suggests Portion Size has Direct Effect on Amount of Food Eaten
Portion size, as opposed to taste, has a greater influence on how much a person eats, suggests a study from Cornell University.  Lead researcher, Brian Wansink, Ph.D., and colleagues examined the amount of stale popcorn people ate when served different portion sizes.  Some of the participants received fresh popcorn while others received stale popcorn.  Participants were given either a medium or large bucket of popcorn.  Those served the stale popcorn described it as “stale” and “terrible.”  However, participants with large buckets of stale popcorn ate 34 percent more than those with medium containers.  Those who received large buckets of fresh popcorn ate 45 percent more than those with medium containers.  Participants denied the big buckets had any effect on the amount of popcorn consumed.  Previous studies have also concluded that portion size has a direct effect on the amount of food people consume. 

Source: MSNBC, January 13, 2006

Obesity Rates in France on the Rise
A new study from Kaiser Permanente suggests France is heading toward American levels of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.  Researchers with France’s Institute National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale (INSERM), followed a normal-weight group of more than three thousand French men and women for a period of six years.  Results from the study, published in the February issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology, indicated that every two pounds of weight gain increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 22 percent.  After six years, participants who gained 20 pounds or more developed metabolic syndrome – a cluster of heart disease and diabetes risk factors including excess body weight, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels. Teresa Hillier, lead author of the study, notes that the more people of normal-weight gain, the higher the risk for metabolic syndrome becomes.  Among the risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, insulin levels had the greatest increase across all of the weight-change groups, nearly doubling for both men and women.  “This is important new information because it shows that even mild weight gain is associated with insulin resistance,” said Hillier.

Currently, France has the lowest obesity rate among nine northern European countries and has the lowest of westernized countries in the world.

Source: Internal Journal of Epidemiology, February, 2006

Portion Control and Counting Calories May Help People Lose Weight Effectively
Counting calories and practicing portion control may be the most effective weight loss methods – especially when used together, suggests a study from Pennsylvania State University.  Results from the study, published in the January edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, indicate practicing portion control and calorie consciousness helped women cut 812 calories from their daily intake.  Lead researcher Dr. Barbara J. Rolls and colleagues examined 24 women between the ages 19 and 35 as they followed four different menu plans for two days apiece.  First, the women consumed standard portions of common foods such as pizza, pasta and salad.  Then, the women consumed lower-calorie versions of the same meals as well as dinners with larger portions of vegetables.  The third plan consisted of full-calorie meals served in smaller portions.  Finally, the fourth menu plan included meals that were smaller in portion as well as low in calories.  “What’s exciting about the results,” Rolls said, “is that the calorie plummet came without huge changes to the diet, and without leaving the women feeling hungry at the end of the day.”

Additionally, the study suggests calorie density, the number of calories in a specified food amount, may play a vital role in cutting the daily calorie intake.  Foods with a high energy density have a lot of calories in a small serving.  On the other hand, foods with low energy density such as fruits and leafy vegetables allow people to consume much greater portions for fewer calories.  The results indicate consuming calorie-dense foods without cutting portions was more effective than simple portion control.  Dr. Rolls recommends consuming a salad or broth-based soup before each meal to help cut calories and still increase satiety.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2006; Reuters Health, January 16, 2006

Study Suggest Excess Weight May Cause Early Death
A study from Northwestern University suggests simply being overweight in middle age may lead to an increased risk of death later in life.  The study, which appeared in the January 9th edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, examined more than 17,000 men and women aged 31 to 64 for more than three decades. Results from the study indicate that participants who had been obese in their middle years but had no health conditions were 43 percent more likely to die from heart disease and 11 times more likely to die from diabetes after the age of 65 than people of normal weight.  Overweight people assessed at moderate risk due to high blood pressure, cholesterol levels or smoking, more than doubled their risk of dying from heart disease compared to people of a normal weight.

“Even for those who didn’t have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes – but who were overweight or obese in middle age – were at much higher risk of being hospitalized for heart disease or diabetes or even dying from it in older age,” said Lijing Yan, a researcher at Northwestern and Peking University.

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, January 9, 2006; Reuters, January 11, 2006

Study Indicates Low-Fat, High-Carbohydrate Diet Does Not Cause Weight Gain
A diet low in fat and high in carbohydrates does not appear to cause weight gain, according to a study published in the January 4th edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.  Dr. Barbara V. Howard and colleagues evaluated the long-term weight changes among nearly 49,000 women between the ages 50 and 79.  One-third of the women participated in group and individual sessions that promoted a 20 percent reduction of dietary fat as well as an intake of five servings of fruits and vegetables and six servings of grains - without a restriction on calories.  Another group of women received diet and health educational materials while a third group served as the control.  During the first year, the average weight of the group receiving educational sessions decreased their weight by almost 5 pounds and over time the women’s weight remained significantly lower by about 1 pound compared to the other groups during the nine-year period. 

“A low-fat dietary pattern may help attenuate the tendency for weight gain commonly observed in postmenopausal women,” Howard’s team concludes. 

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, January 4, 2006; Reuters Health, January 3, 2006

Recent Study Finds Eating Habits and Exercise May Vary by Season
Eating habits, physical activity and body weight may vary according to the season, suggests a study from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.  The study, published in the December issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined the seasonal variations in relation to food intake, physical activity and body weight over the course of one year.  Lead researcher Dr. Yunsheng Ma and colleagues found that the 593 overweight men and women participating in the study consumed an average of 1,963 calories per day, with approximately half of those calories coming from carbohydrates and one-third from fat.  Findings from the study indicate calorie intake was highest during the fall season and lowest during the spring season.  Furthermore, the participants’ body weight was highest during the winter season due to a lower amount of physical activity than in the spring.  “Energy in – food intake – must be equal to energy out – mainly physical activity – to avoid weight gain,” Ma explained.  Researchers hypothesize the winter weight gain may be due to excess eating throughout the holiday season. 

“To avoid the winter weight gain, individuals need to be conscious of their diet and physical activity in the winter,” Ma said.  “It is important to maintain a healthy weight throughout the year,” he added. 

Source: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2005; Reuters Health, December 20, 2005

Obesity Costs North Carolina $24 Billion Annually
A recent report found that obesity, physical activity and other weight-related issues cost the state of North Carolina more than $24 billion annually.  The report, commissioned by the non-profit group, “Be Active North Carolina,” indicates that such costs are due to weight-related medical problems, lost productivity at work and worker’s compensation claims.  “Be Active North Carolina” estimates that the total economic cost for children is $38.2 million a year. 

“The good news is that we know…if we could just get…5 percent of our adults who are overweight or diabetic to be more active and engage in healthier lifestyles, we could save over $1.5 billion every year,” said Shellie Pfohl, executive director of “Be Active North Carolina.”

Source: Associated Press, December 19, 2005

High-Carbohydrate Diet May Modestly Increase Blood Pressure in People with Type 2 Diabetes
A high-carbohydrate diet may slightly increase blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes, suggests a study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.  The purpose of the study, published in the November issue of Diabetes Care, was to compare the effects of a high-carbohydrate diet to a high-monounsaturated fat diet on blood pressure levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.  For six weeks 42 participants with Type 2 diabetes followed either a high-carbohydrate diet or a high-monounsaturated diet.  Participants following the high-carbohydrate diet consumed 55 percent of calories as carbohydrates, 30 percent as fat and 10 percent as monounsaturated fat.  Participants following the high-monounsaturated diet consumed 45 percent of calories as fat, 25 percent as monounsaturated fat and 40 percent as carbohydrates.  At the end of the six weeks the participants switched to the other diet.  After following the second diet for six weeks, lead researcher Dr. Abhimanyu Garg and colleagues invited participants to continue on the second diet for an additional eight weeks.  Eight participants continued the high-monounsaturated fat diet and 13 participants continued the high-carbohydrate diet.

Garg and colleagues found no difference in blood pressure among those participants that followed the program for 12 weeks.  However, the 8-week extension of the monounsaturated fat diet led to a significant lowering of heart rate in comparison to the end of the initial 6-week periods.  “Although the exchange of carbohydrates with monounsaturated fats may not affect blood pressure in the short-term, long-term consumption of a high-carbohydrate diet may modestly raise blood pressure in Type 2 diabetic patients,” the researchers noted.  

Source: Diabetes Care, November 2005; Reuters, November 28, 2005

Parents Worry About Lack of Exercise Among Children
A survey of 961 parents found lack of exercise to be the greatest concern among parents with overweight children.  Although inactivity was the main concern, more than half of the parents surveyed cited the cost of healthy food, television commercials and food packaging as minor problems, according to a poll conducted by Ipsos for the Associated Press and KOL, a kids’ service of American Online.  The poll indicated that 30 percent of parents would like their children to lose weight but factors such as the food served in school cafeterias and the lack of time for home-cooked meals resulted in children consuming too many calories. 

Health professionals agree that getting children outdoors will help increase their level of activity.  “One of the strongest correlates of how overall active a child is, is how much time they spend outdoors,” said Dr. Nancy Krebs, who co-chairs an American Academy of Pediatrics’ obesity panel.  “Nature takes over from there,” she added.

Source: Associated Press, November 21, 2005

Excess Weight Among Teen Girls May Lead to Metabolic Syndrome

A new study suggests adolescent girls with excess weight around the middle and who have high levels of triglycerides are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome– a cluster of heart disease and diabetes risk factors including excess body weight, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels.  The study, published in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics, followed 1,000 girls for 10 years starting at ages 9 and 10.  Findings from the study indicate that increased waist circumference and high triglyceride levels were significant predictors of metabolic syndrome

“Early interventions aimed at managing preteen obesity could reduce the risk of developing the syndrome,” lead author Dr. John A. Morrison, from Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH, and colleagues note. 

Source: Pediatrics, November 2005; Reuters, November 28, 2005

Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Following the Mediterranean-style diet may reduce the risk of heart disease by 15 percent, suggests a recent study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  The Mediterranean diet is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish and olive oil, with minimal amounts of red meat.  Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine Timone in Marseille, France, asked 212 men and women at moderate risk for heart disease to follow the Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet for three months.  Overall, participants on the Mediterranean diet had a total cholesterol drop of 7.5 percent while those on the low-fat diet had total cholesterol drop of 4.5 percent.  Additionally, those following the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of heart disease by 15 percent while those on the low-fat diet reduced their risk of heart disease by 9 percent. 

“Both diets significantly reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors to an overall comparable extent,” researchers said.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2005; Reuters, November 28, 2005

300 Minutes of Exercise May Help Obese Individuals Lose Weight and Keep it off
A study from the University of Pittsburgh indicates getting approximately 300 minutes of exercise a week may facilitate the greatest weight loss among obese individuals. Lead researcher John Jakicic and colleagues examined 191 women, most of who were considered obese, as they followed a low-fat eating program and exercise regimen. All of the participants lost weight, losing an average of 7.2 percent of their starting body weight but the women who continued to exercise more than 270 minutes a week at the end of two years kept the weight off. “It appears you need this amount of activity to achieve and sustain weight loss of this magnitude,” says Jakicic.

Walking for approximately 50 minutes a day five days a week is key but Jakicic notes, “It’s important to walk with intensity like you’re late for an important meeting.”

Source: USA Today, Oct. 24, 2005

Military Finds Weight Loss Success on the Internet
Military personnel who need to lose weight may find the greatest success using Internet weight loss programs, indicates a study from the U.S. Air Force. The 452 overweight U.S. Air Force Personnel who participated in the study were asked to choose a typical weight loss program or an interactive weight loss program that consisted of a self-help book, two motivational phone calls and an Internet weight loss program with food and exercise diaries. After 6 months, the participants following the Internet weight loss program lost an average of four pounds while participants following the typical weight loss program gained an average of one pound. Additionally, those using the Internet weight loss program reported favorable changes in waist circumference and body fat.

“Despite how commonplace it is, there is a stigma in the military about being overweight and joining a weight loss program,” said lead researcher, Christine Hunter, Ph.D.

“Finding programs that offer a private atmosphere to promote healthy weight management and overcome the barriers to attending a group program are essential to ensure the health and readiness of military personnel,” added Hunter.

Source: North American Association for the Study of Obesity, Oct. 2005

Study Suggests Most Americans Likely to be Overweight
A study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that 90 percent of U.S. men and 70 percent of women are likely to become overweight as they grow older. Lead researcher Dr. Ramachandran Vasan and colleagues followed 4,000 Caucasian men and women for more than 30 years and monitored their body mass index (BMI). Findings from the study show that one in five women and one in four men who are at a healthy weight are likely to become overweight after four years. In addition, 23 percent of the women and 13 percent of the men who began the study overweight became obese within four years.

“National surveys and other studies have told us the United States has a major weight problem, but this study suggests that we could have an even more serious degree of overweight and obesity over the next few decades,” said Elizabeth Nabel, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Source: Reuters, Oct. 3, 2005

Regular Exercise and Protein-Rich Diet May Build Muscle Mass, Aid Weight Loss
A diet rich in protein may assist women who exercise regularly to lose fat and build muscle, suggests a study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The study, which appeared in the August issue of the Journal of Nutrition, compared the effects of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet against a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet in 48 obese women. Both of the diets were reduced in calories but women in the high-carbohydrate diet consumed 30 percent of their total calories from protein while the high-protein group consumed 60 percent of their total calories from protein. In addition, lead researcher Donald Layman randomly separated the women into two groups, a low-level exercise group and a high-level exercise group. The low-level exercise group was asked to voluntarily walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week while the high-level exercise group participated in mandatory 30-minute walking sessions, five days a week as well as two 30-minute weight lifting sessions per week for a period of four months.

Findings from the study indicate that while protein may help maintain muscle and assist in weight loss, caloric reduction and exercise appear to be key to losing body fat. Both groups of dieters lost weight but the women who exercised lost more fat and less muscle. However, nearly all of the weight lost in the high-protein exercise group was fat, while 25 to 30 percent of the weight lost in the high-carbohydrate exercise group was muscle, according to researchers. “Both diets work because, when you restrict calories, you lose weight. But the people on the higher-protein diet lost more weight [fat],” says Layman.

Source: Journal of Nutrition, Aug. 2005; WebMD, Aug. 29,2005

Excess Body Fat in Children May Lead to Cardiovascular Disease
Children with excess body fat, even those who are not obese or overweight, may be at risk for cardiovascular disease suggests a study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Lead researcher Peter H. Whincup, Ph.D., professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London, and his colleagues examined 471 children between the ages of 13 and 15 and measured their blood pressure, lipids, insulin and body fat percentages. In addition, researchers used ultrasound to measure the elasticity of the blood vessels, a strong indicator of one’s risk for heart disease. Researchers found that children with excess fat in the body tissue (adiposity) had reduced blood vessel elasticity and an increased risk of heart disease. Although children considered obese or overweight had the greatest risk, researchers found that adiposity occurred at “BMI levels well below those considered to represent obesity,” according to researchers.

“These observations emphasize the importance of population-wide strategies to reduce childhood adiposity by a combination of changes in diet and physical activity,” said Whincup.

Source: Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, Sept. 20, 2005; WebMD, Sept. 19,2005

Mothers’ Opinion of Family Meal May Influence Children’s Weight
Mothers who place importance on the family meal may be able to help their children understand the importance of nutrition, suggests a study from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. The study, published in the August edition of the journal Obesity Research, examined 3,800 boys and girls from birth to age 14. Researchers found the prevalence of overweight boys at age 14 was 24 percent and 27 percent for girls. Lead researcher Dr. Abdullah A. Mamun and his colleagues studied the frequency at which the children ate family meals and then questioned the mothers about the importance of the family meal. While 79 percent of mothers said their family ate together at least once a day, only 43 percent of mothers said they felt it was important to eat together. The researchers found that children whose mothers placed less importance on family meals were 30 percent more likely to be overweight by age 14 compared with children whose mothers valued the family meal.

In general, there was no association between the number of family meals and the weight of children, only the mothers’ attitude toward the importance of the meal. Lola O’Rourke, a dietician and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, believes mothers who value the family meal may also provide more emotional support to their teens as well as teaching them about healthy eating habits. “You would think people who are more concerned about family meals are also probably more concerned about nutrition,” said O’Rourke.

Source: Obesity Research, Aug. 2005; HealthDay, Sept. 19,2005

New Study Indicates Excess Fat May be Worse Than Lack of Fitness for Teens
Excess body fat may be a greater detriment to the health of teens than a lack of fitness, a recent study suggests. Findings from the study, published in the July issue of the journal Pediatric Research, found that excess body fat in teens resulted in high levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and decreased levels of HDL (or “good”) cholesterol. Lead researcher Dr. Bernard Gutin of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and his colleagues measured the percentage of body fat, physical fitness and factors related to cardiovascular disease in 400 teenagers between the ages 14 and 18. According to researchers, the percentage of body fat and fitness were linked to cholesterol and triglyceride profiles but when the researchers removed the influence of body fat, fitness had little effect on cardiovascular risk factors.

Children with unfavorable lipid profiles, therefore, are likely at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, Gutin noted. ‘We now know that the pathophysiologic processes underlying heart disease begin during childhood, even though the heart attacks usually occur much later in life,” he said.

Source: Pediatric Research, July 2005; Reuters Health, Aug. 10, 2005

Cereal May Assist in Weight Control for Women
New research indicates women who eat cereal for breakfast may weigh less than women who eat other breakfast foods or skip breakfast altogether. The study, published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, found that women who consumed a serving of cereal for breakfast on a daily basis were 30 percent less likely to be overweight than women who chose other foods or omitted breakfast. Findings from the study were compiled from a larger national and health and nutrition survey conducted by health officials from 1999-2000. Data from the survey of more than 4,000 adults showed that 77 percent of participants ate breakfast, with 22 percent of those choosing boxed cereals.

Lead researcher Dr. Won O. Song of Michigan State University in East Lansing, and her colleagues are unsure if there is a direct link to cereal and weight loss but speculate that the fiber, vitamins and minerals found in many cereals may help facilitate weight control.

Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Sept. 2005; Reuters Health, Sept. 7, 2005

Link Between Dairy and Weight Loss Debated
A recent study adds fuel to the weight loss and dairy debate. The study, published in the August issue of the journal Obesity Research, examined 72 participants following three different types of reduced-calorie diets. One group followed a standard diet with two daily servings of dairy, the second group followed a standard diet incorporating four daily servings of dairy and the third group ate a low-glycemic diet (high in fiber) with four servings of dairy each day. After following the three groups for 48 weeks, researchers found that all three groups lost approximately 22 pounds of body weight and 8 pounds of fat. Lead researcher Dr. Warren G. Thompson of the Mayo Clinic suggests conducting larger trials in multiple centers to more accurately determine whether there is link between dairy consumption and weight loss.

Whether dairy was a factor in the pounds lost is still unknown but health professionals agree that consuming dairy on a daily basis is important. The Dietary Guidelines recommend 3 servings of milk and milk products daily, yet most Americans only consume 1-2 servings daily. Health professionals advise those who want to lose weight to balance their calories and incorporate physical activity.

Source: Obesity Research, August 2005; Reuters Health, Sept. 8, 2005

Percentage of Obese Americans Increases in Most States
According to the advocacy group, Trust for America’s Health, the percentage of obese Americans has increased in almost every state. Data from the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) shows that the national percentage of obese adults increased from 22 percent in the 2001-03 cycle to 22.7 percent nationally in the 2002-04 cycle. The Southeastern region of the U.S has the highest percentage of obese adults, and Alabama is currently increasing its rate of obesity faster than any other state. Oregon was the only state not to increase its rate of obesity. The lowest percentage of obese adults can be found in Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Montana. Hawaii was not included in the report.

Source: Associated Press, Aug. 23, 2005; Trust for America’s Health, Aug.2005

Obesity May Increase Risk of Physical Disability in Later Years
A new study indicates that while obesity may not cause death at an earlier age, it does increase the risk of disability. The study, published in the August issue of TheGerontologist, found that both obese and non-obese adults who reach the age of 70 could both expect to live approximately 15 fifteen years. However, obese adults are more likely to spend more years with a physical disability. For example, a 70-year-old normal woman can expect to live 10 “active” years followed by five years with a disability. However, an obese woman can expect only eight years of an active lifestyle and seven years of disability. Researchers defined “disability” as the inability to perform one or more daily tasks such as dressing, walking, eating or getting out of bed.

Source: The Gerontologist, Aug. 2005; WebMD, Aug. 5, 2005

Losing Weight May Help Some Women Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer
Losing 10 pounds may help young women with a certain gene mutation reduce their risk of breast cancer at an early age, a recent study suggests. Findings from the study, published in the August issue of the journal Breast Cancer Research, indicate that women who lost 10 pounds between the ages 18 and 30 may reduce the risk of breast cancer by 65 percent—among women with BRCA1 gene mutations—compared with those who did not lose or gain more than 10 pounds. (Mutations in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 greatly increase the risk of breast cancer in women.) Additionally, the study suggests women who had two full-term pregnancies and gained more than 10 pounds between the ages 18 and 30 have a 44 percent increased risk of breast cancer than women whose weight remains stable. “The results from this study suggest that weight loss early in life (age 18 to 30) protects against early onset BRCA-associated breast cancers,” writes Steven Narod, MD, PhD, and colleagues in Breast Cancer Research Narod is a professor at the University of Toronto and directs the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at the university’s Centre for Research in Women’s Health.

“The period between age 18 and 30 years appears to be a critical one when weight gain should be avoided in mutation carriers,” write the researchers. Although the majority of the 2,000 participants in the study had the BRCA1 gene mutation, a relatively small number of participants had the BRCA2 gene mutation. Although researchers found that women between the ages 18 to 30 years with the BRCA2 gene mutation could make “modest” improvements in their risk for breast cancer by losing weight, the greatest benefit was seen in women with mutations in BRCA1. Experts from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation advise women to reduce the risk of breast cancer by maintaining a normal weight, staying active, limiting alcohol to less than a drink per day and reducing the amount of saturated and trans fats in the diet.

Source: Journal of Breast Cancer Research, Aug.19,2005; WebMD, Aug. 23,2005

Slightly Elevated Blood Pressure May Increase Risk of Heart Attack
Research published in the August edition of the journal Stroke suggests slightly elevated blood pressure may significantly increase the risk of a heart attack. The study findings indicate that people with blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89, known as prehypertension, are three times as likely to have a heart attack and twice as likely to have heart disease than a person with normal blood pressure. “If we could eliminate prehypertension, we could potentially prevent about 47 percent of all heart attacks,” says lead researcher Dr. Adnan Qureshi.

Although prehypertension may increase the risk of heart attacks and heart disease, researchers found it does not increase the risk of stroke. To lower blood pressure levels, experts recommend exercise, reducing salt intake and a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Medication may also be needed.

Source: Reuters Limited, Aug. 4, 2005; MSNBC.com, Aug. 2005

Study Raises Concern About Hormone and Supplement Use Among Teens
Concerns about appearance are leading more teens to use hormones and dietary supplements to improve their physiques, suggests a study published in the August edition of Pediatrics. The nationwide survey of 10,000 adolescent boys and girls found that one in eight boys and one in 12 girls are using such products to lose weight or gain muscle mass and strength. According to the survey, teens that frequently worry about their appearance and aspire to look like media figures are three times as likely as their peers to use hormones and supplements.

“The take-home message here is that we really need to think about body-image dissatisfaction in boys as well as girls,” says Alison Field, a Harvard Medical School professor of pediatrics and lead researcher of the study. “Both are influenced by the images they see in the media, which can be unrealistically thin for girls and unrealistically muscular for boys,” added Field. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota and author, provides tips for parents to help teens overcome unrealistic expectations about their appearance:

• Lead by example, making healthy (but not perfect) food choices.
• Promote a healthy lifestyle that focuses on wellbeing rather than weight.
• Prohibit weight-related comments in the household.
• Let your teen know you’re there to listen and talk.

Source: USA Today, July 31, 2005

Strict Diet May Help Fight Prostate Cancer
A study from the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that a strict vegan diet in conjunction with regular exercise and relaxation techniques may help slow the growth of prostate cancer. The study, which appears in the September issue of the Journal of Oncology, is the first of its kind to provide direct evidence that lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise may affect the progression of cancer. Lead researcher Dr. Dean Ornish and his colleagues recruited 93 men with early prostate cancer that were not actively seeking medical treatment. Half of the men followed a restricted vegan diet, exercised for at least 30 minutes a day for six days a week, participated in weekly support group meetings and learned about stress-management techniques such as yoga and meditation. The other half of the men made no changes in their lifestyles.

After one year, the men who followed the restricted plan scored better on a standard blood test (which indicates prostate cancer growth) than the men who made no diet and exercise changes. They were also less likely to need treatment for cancer and their blood tests indicated the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. “The take-home message is that an active-lifestyle combined with a healthy diet definitely decreases the risk of many types of cancer, and in the case of early nonaggressive prostate cancer, it may slow disease progression,” says Durado Brooks of the American Cancer Society.

Source: Washington Post, Aug. 11,2005

“Double Diabetes” Phenomenon Worries Doctors
A more complicated form of diabetes appears to be on the rise as patients begin to demonstrate symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Coined “Type 3 diabetes” or “diabetes 1 ½,” this new hybrid form of diabetes makes accurate detection and treatment more complicated. “There are many people in which it’s very blurred as to what kind of diabetes they have,” says Dr. Francine Kaufman, a University of California pediatric endocrinologist and past president of the American Diabetes Association.

	Type 1 Diabetes	Type 2 Diabetes
Who it affects	Mostly in children but is becoming more prevalent in older patients	In the past, mostly adults but now occurs at any age; associated with obesity
Problem	The body no longer produces enough insulin	Body cannot properly use insulin; Insulin resistance
Solution	Daily insulin shot or insulin pump	Weight loss, exercise; Medication

Health professionals are seeing an increase in the number of patients, including children, who display symptoms of both forms of the disease yet they are unsure of the cause. According to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, approximately 25 percent of children with Type 1 diabetes are overweight but also have other Type 2 symptoms. Type 1 diabetes may require daily insulin injections that stimulate appetite and cause weight gain. Weight gain may lead to insulin-resistance and the development of Type 2 diabetes. An ongoing study at the University of Washington indicates that many children with Type 2 diabetes also have antibodies that signal the development of Type 1 diabetes. Scientists have not yet determined if special treatment will be needed for “double diabetes. In the meantime, scientists suggest taking steps toward prevention, such as exercise and healthy eating.

Source: Associated Press, July 2005

Additional Hours of Exercise Per Week May Prevent Obesity Among Girls
Research from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Growth and Health Study (NGHS) suggests the physical activity equivalent of 2.5 hours of brisk walking per week might prevent weight gain in adolescent girls. The study, published in the July 14 th online edition of The Lancet, followed 1,213 African-American and 1,166 Caucasian girls over a period of ten years, tracking Body Mass Index (BMI), skinfold thickness and activity levels. The study found that 2.5 hours of additional exercise might help combat rising obesity rates and aid in preventing obesity-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.

Head researcher Dr. Sue Y.S. Kimm and colleagues also found African-American girls “were significantly heavier and fatter than white girls throughout adolescence, with increasing racial differences with age.” The study suggests that adding the physical activity equivalent of 2.5 hours of brisk walking per week may prevent an eight to 13 pound weight gain in Caucasian girls and a 13 to 20 pound gain in African-American girls.

Source:MSNBC, July 13, 2005

Gene May Explain Link Between Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
A recent study in the journal Nature Genetics suggests the link between obesity and Type 2 diabetes may be the result of a gene that interferes with both appetite and the ability to use insulin correctly. Head researcher Philippe Froguel and colleagues at the Imperial College London studied 62 families prone to obesity and diabetes and discovered a common gene called ENPP1. Researchers then studied 4,000 people in Northern Europe. They found different variations of the gene, six of which were linked to severe obesity. ENPP1 controls the cell’s response to insulin and the ability to use glucose. Froguel believes the gene may interfere with appetite and the ability to use insulin correctly.

“The identification of ENPP1 as a molecular mechanism for obesity and diabetes means we may be able to use it as a target to develop new therapies and treatments, ultimately leading to more effective ways of treating diabetes,” Froguel said.

Source: CNN.com, July 2005

Smaller Portions May Help Fight Childhood Obesity
Serving children smaller portions of food may be the key to preventing childhood obesity, suggests a study from Cornell University. The study, published in the June issue of Appetite, found that children are more likely to eat what they are served, as opposed to regulating their food intake based on feelings of hunger and satiety.

The study also found that snacking between meals did not cause children to eat less at subsequent meals. “We found that the more food children are served, the more they eat, regardless of what they’ve eaten previously in the day, including how big their breakfast was,” says researcher David Levitsky, professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University. These new findings may indicate a greater responsibility on the part of parents and caregivers in controlling the amount of food given to children to help reduce weight gain.

Source: WebMD, June 17,2005; Appetite, June 2005

Slow Walks May Burn More Calories
A new study from the University of Colorado at Boulder suggests that casual walking may prove more beneficial than vigorous exercise for obese individuals, resulting in more calories burned per mile and a reduced risk of injury to the joints. Doctoral student Ray Browning and his colleagues examined 40 men and women-- 20 of average weight and 20 considered obese. They found that the obese individuals who walked at a slower pace for a longer period of time diminished stiffness in their joints and burned a greater number of calories than their counterparts.

“We’re not at all advocating less physical activity, or less vigorous activity. We’re just saying slow walking might be a way to burn a few extra calories a week,” said Browning, a former professional triathlete. “The message we need to give people is, get out and walk,” said James Hill, head of the Center for Nutrition at the University of Colorado at Denver. “Any speed is fine. Some speeds are better than others, but get out and do it.”

Source: Associated Press, 2005

Cutting Calories May Help Improve Overall Health
Research suggests that cutting back on excess calories may help prevent cancer and improve overall health, according to experts at the American Institute for Cancer Research. Laboratory studies indicate that reducing caloric consumption by 10 percent may help inhibit all types of cancer by slowing the development of cancer cells, increasing their rate of self-destruction and minimizing DNA damage.

Reducing caloric consumption may be beneficial but experts advise consuming at least 1,500 calories each day in order to meet the nutrient needs of the body. Consuming too few calories can worsen a person’s health, making them more susceptible to cancer. Experts advise cutting 50 to 200 calories a day of nutrient-poor foods in order to obtain the benefits of a reduced calorie diet. Substituting reduced-calorie foods in place of full calorie foods can also help. For example, a reduced-calorie yogurt would save 130 calories. Choosing 2 percent milk in place of whole milk would save 30 calories.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research; MSN, June 2005

Diet Soda Study Not Supported by Other Studies
Research from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio suggests that people who drink diet soft drinks are more likely to become overweight. The study, which was presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 65 th Annual Scientific Session, monitored the drinking habits of 1,177 patients for 8 years. However, this recent study is inconsistent with the majority of scientific research on this topic. The researchers are also quick to point out that this study does not prove a direct relationship between drinking diet soft drinks and weight gain. It is well established that in order to lose weight, a person must consume fewer calories than they expend.

The weight loss process is best achieved by a reduction in caloric intake combined with an increase in exercise yet can be accomplished at a slower rate by a reduction in caloric intake or exercise alone. Human studies support the use of low-calorie sweeteners in conjunction with a weight management program. For example, in 2001 Ludwig and colleagues studies 548 ethnically diverse children (ages 7-11 years) for 19 months. They found that there was an inverse relationship between diet soft drink consumption and obesity.

“Low-calorie sweeteners and the products that contain them are a useful tool for those trying to control or lose weight,” notes Dr. John Foreyt, director of the Nutrition Research Clinic and professor, Department of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Source: New York Times, June 14, 2005

Color Contributes to Nutrition
As part of the American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) “365 Days of Healthy Eating” campaign, the ADA suggests that consumers focus on adding color to their diet. According to the ADA, consuming fruits and vegetables with a variety of colors is important in order to consume nutrients needed by the body. The various colors of fruits and vegetables denote unique nutrients and antioxidants, especially in the edible peels of certain selections.

The ADA offers the following suggestions for “color consumption:”

Color	Nutrient	Food Source	Health Properties
Green	Lutein	Broccoli, collards, green peas and spinach	May reduce risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
Deep Yellow/Orange	Beta Carotene	Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, peaches and mangoes	May help slow aging and the risk for heart disease and cancer. Helps boost the immune system.
Purple/Blue	Anthocyanins	Blackberries, blueberries, eggplant, plums purple grapes	May help protect against urinary tract infections and may reduce cancer risk.
Red	Lycopene	Tomatoes, red cabbage, sweet sherries, strawberries, pink grapefruit, watermelon	Helps protect against prostate cancer.
White	Allyl sulfides	Garlic, leeks, onions	May boost immune system, help control cholesterol, and control blood pressure.

Source: American Dietetic Association; The Huntington Herald Dispatch, June 6, 2005

Proper Guidance Can Teach Children How to Consume Nutritious Diet
If children are given appropriate nutrition education, they will be more likely to consume a nutritious diet, suggests a study that appears in the June edition of the journal, Pediatrics. The study, sponsored by the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), found that children who attend nutrition education programs are more likely to develop healthier eating habits than children who only receive general information about nutrition.

The findings suggest that teaching children about healthy food choices at an early age will help them develop healthier eating habits in the long run. “Habits developed in childhood will hopefully last throughout their lives,” study lead author Linda Van Horn said.

Source: Pediatrics, June2005; HealthyDay News, June 1, 2005

Childhood Obesity Becoming a Global Problem
Research published in the May edition of the British Medical Journal suggests a growth in the global childhood obesity problem. The study on 140,000 adolescents aged 10 to 16 in 34 countries shows that in 77 percent of countries, at least 10 percent of the adolescents were overweight (Body Mass Index – BMI – of 25 or greater). In 20 percent of the countries at least 3 percent of children were obese (BMI of 30 or greater). The countries with the highest proportion of overweight youth were Malta (25.4 percent) and the United States (25.1 percent). High rates of overweight youth were found primarily in countries in North America, Great Britain and southwestern Europe.

The study’s findings also show that many countries with a high proportion of overweight children was associated with lower levels of physical activity and longer television viewing times by youth. These findings suggest that television viewing is often replacing physical activity for many youths, and contributing to a lack of overall physical activity.

The authors, researchers from Canada, Scotland and England among others, suggest that because the problem of childhood obesity is a growing problem worldwide, the World Health Organization should provide global leadership for finding an obesity solution. “The prevention and treatment of overweight in school-aged youth required increased efforts and partnerships at all levels, including regional, national governments and international agencies,” note the authors. “All of these groups should be responsible for promoting physical activity, healthy diets and healthy body weights.”

Source: British Medical Journal, May 2005; Obesity Review, May 2005

Low-Glycemic-Load Eating Plan Focuses on Slow Carb, Not Low Carb
While low-carbohydrate diets may be fading in popularity, a similar approach to eating and weight loss is emerging. The low-glycemic-load or low-glycemic-index eating plan focuses on eating foods the body cannot quickly convert into sugar, such as foods that contain complex carbohydrates, rather than simple sugars. This method of eating may be easier to follow than diets that severely restrict fat or carbohydrates. Preliminary research has also shown that low-glycemic plans have the additional benefit of reducing the risk of chronic disease.

While this method may be easier to sustain over long periods, it can be complex to understand. The glycemic index of foods can be higher or lower depending upon how much of the food is eaten, how the food is cooked and what other things the food is eaten with. In general, this method involves eating large amounts of fruits and vegetables cooked or served with healthful oils. Participants can consume reduced-fat dairy foods, lean meats and fish, nuts and beans as well, but less frequently. Foods to be eaten even less frequently are whole grains, unrefined grains and pastas. Foods to be eaten sparingly are refined grains, potatoes and sweets.

A study comparing the low-glycemic eating plan with traditional low-fat diets, and published in the May edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that a low-glycemic method may be more conducive to weight loss. After 12 months on a diet, participants on a slow-carb (low glycemic) plan lost 7.8% of their body weight, while those on a low-fat plan lost 6.1% of their body weight. Those on the low-glycemic eating plan also experienced a larger decrease in their triglyceride levels. The findings suggest that not only will a low glycemic method help people lose weight, it may help improve heart health as well.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2005; www.webmd.com, May 11, 2005

Getting the Most Out of Grains
With the dawn of the low-carb era, as well as the newly revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans, much attention is being given to various types of breads. With a large number of new products, navigating the bread aisle can be a difficult task. Which breads offer the most nutritional benefits? Many consumers think that breads cannot be part of a healthy diet. However, whole grain breads offer excellent nutrition and can improve health. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming six servings of grains per day, with half of the servings coming from whole grains. According to an April 2005 article in the Nutrition Action Healthletter, breads that are 100 percent whole grain, or mostly whole grain are the healthiest and most beneficial options available. In order to make the most nutritious choices, consumers must know what the claims on the labels mean, and which health components to look for. The following are common labels that appear in the bread aisle:

Fiber – The National Academy of Sciences suggests that young women should consume 25 grams a day, and women over 50 should consume 21 grams a day. Younger men should consume 38 grams a day, while men over 50 should consume 30 grams a day. A typical slice of whole wheat bread contains 2 grams of fiber. Many whole grain or multi-grain breads contain as much as 4 o 5 grams of fiber per slice.

Heart Healthy - Any bread that is at least 51 percent whole grain can claim it may lower the risk of heart disease or cancer.

Added Vitamins and Minerals – Some companies add nutrients such as vitamin D, calcium, extra fiber and folic acid to their products.

Partially Whole Grain – These products contain more whole grain or whole grain flour than refined flour. The refined flour is typically notated as bleached or unbleached enriched wheat flour. When looking at the ingredient list on the product’s nutrition label, the ingredients with the highest amounts are listed first, with the rest in descending order. While not as good a choice as whole grain selections, partially whole grain breads still offer a great deal of nutrients, as long as the whole grains are listed as the first or second ingredient.

Light – Products labeled as “light” typically have slices that are 40-50 calories per slice, smaller in size and contain added fiber. However, the majority of light breads are mostly made up of white flour and do not contain many whole grains.

Lower-Carb – These breads typically have a lower number of total carbohydrates than normal breads and generally contain 40-70 calories per slice. The slices are often smaller and contain added fiber, similar to “light” breads. However, many lower-carb breads contain more whole grains and nutrients.

Source: Nutrition Action HealthLetter, April 2005; National academy of Sciences, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Eating Habits of Mother Has Impact on Nutritional Habits of Children
Research from Pennsylvania State University suggests that a mother’s habits may wield more power of their daughters eating habits than originally thought. The study, published in the April 2005 edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association studied the effect interactions between mothers and their 9-year old daughters have on the children’s eating habits. The results suggest that moms who eat more fruits and vegetables foster similar habits in their daughters. Those mothers who are less likely to eat healthful produce are more likely to have daughters who do not eat enough fruits and vegetables and who are picky eaters.

Leann Birch, the author of the study, suggests that nurturing healthy eating habits is an important part of parenting, as the home environment helps shape the food preferences and eating patterns of children. The study’s findings also suggest that a mother’s nutritional knowledge and exercise habits are just as important as food choices in creating healthy habits with their children. In addition, actions such as eating breakfast with your children, proper portion size and excluding bribes related to eating can help foster healthy eating habits fro children.

Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, April, 2005; The Washington Post, May 3, 2005;

Average American Diet Lacking Adequate Vegetable Intake
Although a great deal of research advises adults and children alike to eat enough vegetables for proper health, consumption by the average American remains too low. As such, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released in January by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests vegetable intake should be a focus in adult diets. More specifically, the Guidelines focus on increasing the consumption of dark green vegetables in the diet because most American diets tend to lack adequate potassium and magnesium. Potassium and magnesium are linked with blood pressure and blood sugar.

According to the Guidelines, the average adult should consume three cups (six servings) of dark green vegetables a week. Foods such as spinach, Swiss chard, kale, watercress, arugula, bok choy, broccoli, collard greens, mustard greens and turnip greens are rich in potassium and magnesium, as well as folate and cancer-fighting antioxidants. Folate promotes heart health and is necessary for DNA duplication and repair.

Source: MSNBC.com, April 8, 2005; American Institute for Cancer Research; 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, January 2005;

Conventional Low-Fat Diet Not Enough to Lower Cholesterol Levels
Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that a conventional low-fat diet may not be enough to lower cholesterol unless it is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. The recent research from Stanford University studied a group of people on a conventional low-fat diet and compared them with a group of people on a plant-based low-fat diet that included whole-grain cereals, dark lettuces, bean burritos and vegetable soups in addition to other low-fat foods.

Although both diets were calorie controlled and contained the same amount of saturated fat, protein, carbohydrate and cholesterol, the results were surprisingly different. The participants in both groups were able to lower their cholesterol levels. However, those on the conventional diet lowered their LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) by an average of 4.6 percent, while those on the plant-based low-fat diet lowered their LDL levels by 9.4 percent. The findings suggest that low-fat diets may fail to lower cholesterol because they don’t contain the proper nutrients. Those who are looking to control their cholesterol levels should include fruits, vegetables and whole grains into an overall low-fat diet, rather than simply relying on a low-fat diet that may not include enough plant-source foods.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine, April 2004; Reuters, May 2, 2005; MSNBC.com, May 2, 2005

 

USDA Introduces New Food Guidance System, MyPyramid
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled their new Food Guidance System last week. The new interactive food guide system, MyPyramid, is an updated version of the Food Guide Pyramid originally launched in 1992 and focuses on balancing the foods people eat with physical activity. The central message behind the new system is “Steps to a Healthier You,” which emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle. MyPyramid incorporates recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which was released by the USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January.

Health professionals agree that making small changes in caloric intake and expenditure can help people manage their weight. This new food guidance system is another small step in helping to relay that information to consumers. Combined with the new 2005 Dietary Guidelines and the Food & Drug Administration’s umbrella campaign, “Calories Count,” adults will be able take away clear, consistent messages about obtaining and maintaining a healthier weight and overall healthy lifestyle through simple steps. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns noted that efforts from parents, teachers, organizations, the food industry and more are needed to help relay the messages from the new food guidance system. The MyPyramid symbol represents the recommended proportion of foods from each food group and focuses on the importance of making smart food choices in every food group, every day. Physical activity is a new element in the symbol. The USDA has released a new web site, (www.mypyramid.gov) to help people get in step with the guidelines and recommendations.

The Calorie Control Council’s free, award-winning Web site (www.caloriecontrol.org) contains practical information and tips for cutting calories and leading a healthier lifestyle that are in line with the recommendations included in the new Food Guidance System. The Council’s site boasts several calculators (including a healthy weight calculator, a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator, exercise calculator, etc.) as well as information on how to cut calories in a sensible manner. The site also contains the Council’s downloadable brochure, “Winning by Losing” – which emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and strategies to help consumers lose weight if needed. The Council will continue to look for various avenues to promote messages and support USDA, HHS and FDA in educating consumers about sensible weight control through balancing calories and physical activity.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; www.mypyramid.gov, April 2005; Calorie Control Council, April 2005

Obesity Becomes a Global Problem as Energy-Dense Foods Become Less Expensive Than Nutritious Foods Around the World
While obesity continues to be a problem in the United States, the trend also represents a growing problem worldwide. A recent report published in the New England Journal of Medicine notes, “In developing countries, as many as 60 percent of households with an underweight family member also have an overweight one.” At one time, being overweight indicated a life of luxury, while those with a lower socioeconomic status, especially in developing countries, were typically thin due to hard physical labor and a low consumption of food. However, a shift towards urbanization and modernization is now causing obesity to rise quickest among lower-income groups.

Dr. Adam Drewnowski, director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition and the University of Washington notes that energy-dense food is becoming cheaper on a global scale, with calories from sugar and fat becoming the cheapest. On the other hand, nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains tend to be more expensive. According to Dr. Mickey Chopra, public health specialist at the University of Western Cape, South Africa, the rise in obesity among middle- and lower-income countries can be attributed to a shift in lifestyle: inexpensive highly refined foods containing high levels of calories and saturated fats coupled with a decreased energy expenditure as people remain mostly sedentary during their daily work. Today’s conveniences such as motor scooters, cars and conveniences at work dramatically decrease the amount of activity required for daily routines and work.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 115 million people in developing countries currently suffer from obesity-related problems. The WHO has also publicly warned of a problem called “globesity” – a growing global epidemic of overweight and obesity. The WHO estimates that conditions often caused by overweight and obesity such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension with become the principle global causes of death.

Source: New York Times, April 19, 2005

Mini-Meals May Offer Solution to Weight Maintenance
According to a recent editorial published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, more than 40 years of research has given us no clear answer on the subject of whether eating three large meals a day or multiple small meals is better. Either method will work as long as calorie intake is balanced with calorie output. The authors of the editorial note that weight loss is ultimately based upon the total amount of energy consumed rather than how often or regularly one eats. However, some people may find that eating six small meals throughout the day offers greater satiety than three larger meals.

The best approach to weight maintenance or loss is the method that is easiest for individuals to stick with. Research from the University of Nottingham suggests that people who eat regular meals at roughly the same time every day will consume fewer total calories and will be able to metabolize their calories better. The research subjects who ate regular meals also showed lowered blood cholesterol levels and improved insulin production, as opposed to those who ate irregular meals.

Source: The Washington Post, April 12, 2005

National Academy of Sciences Releases New Hydration Guidelines
Updated guidelines for hydration and health from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recommend that proper hydration can be achieved by drinking water, as well as consuming other beverages, including those that contain caffeine. While experts formerly believed that drinking beverages containing caffeine would dehydrate you, they now believe that even these beverages will aid proper hydration of the body. Water alone can provide the necessary hydration your body needs, however studies show that individuals drink 45-50 percent more liquid when it’s flavored. Be aware that certain flavored drinks can provide calories, so be sure to account for these calories in your daily total. Drinks such as diet soft drinks, low-calorie juices and reduced-calorie flavored drinks provide flavor, aid hydration and won’t significantly contribute calories to the diet.

In addition, the updated NAS statement notes that individuals need a higher fluid intake than was formerly believed. Women require an average of 9 cups a day, while men need an average of 13 cups a day. Water is the largest component of the human body, making up 50-60 percent of a person’s body weight. Proper hydration is important for such processes as regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients and oxygen and cushioning joints and organs. Dehydration may lead to fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps and even more serious disorders such as gallstones, blood clots and an irregular heartbeat. Adequate hydration is best achieved by drinking beverages throughout the day.

Source: Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness, April 2005; National Academy of Sciences, October 2004

Visual Cues Important For Controlling Food Intake
A study published in the April edition of the journal Obesity Research from the University of Illinois indicates that consumers may be using their eyes to count calories and not their stomachs. Researchers served half of the study’s participants a normal 18-oz bowl of soup, while serving the other participants an 18-oz bowl of soup that was being refilled as they ate without their knowledge. Those who ate out of the refilling bowls consumed an average of 113 more calories than those who ate out of a standard 18-oz bowl. Those who ate more reported feeling just as satisfied (and no more full) as those who consumed less. They also reported believing they consumed the same number of calories as those who ate less.

Often, consumers judge food intake and feelings of satiety by a visual cue of an empty bowl, plate or package. Thus, portion sizes should carefully be considered for those worried about overeating or those trying to lose weight or maintain weight. For example, repackaging bulk foods into smaller containers could lead people to think that a smaller serving was as filling as a larger serving consumed straight from a bulk package. Feelings of satiety or “fullness” may not come from the number of calories you consume, but rather from the visual cues you associate with finishing a meal.

Source: Obesity Research, April 2005; Food Production Daily, April 5, 2005

Functional Food Ingredient May Slow Down Fat Absorption
A common ingredient used for many years to add texture to foods may offer additional health benefits such as slowing down the absorption of fats from foods, and possibly preventing individuals from developing insulin resistance (a precursor to type II diabetes). HPMC is a cellulose derivative that is a tasteless, odorless compound. The substance has been used for many years as a texturing ingredient in foods and as a coating for medications in pill form, but has never before been used as a functional ingredient in foods. Researchers from the US Department of Agriculture suggest that HPMC could be added to fatty foods to help slow fat absorption in the stomach, small intestine or both, and help reduce the risk of type II diabetes. However, the researchers also note that the compound will most likely not have an effect on reducing obesity or preventing weight gain from those consuming fatty foods. Rather, the compound may limit the damage of insulin resistance in high-fat diets by acting as a fat regulator. Additional research is needed before HPMC is added to foods for functional purposes.

Source: US Department of Agriculture; American Chemical Society Symposium, March 2005; NutraIngredients, March 16, 2005

Don’t Cut All Breads from Diet; Healthy Lifestyle Includes Whole Grains
Although many popular diets of recent years have suggested that one needs to cut out all breads from the diet in order to lose or maintain weight, this is not necessarily true. Rather, health experts now suggest consuming whole grain breads instead of white or more processed or refined breads. Whole grains, and foods made from them, consist of the entire grain seed, called the kernel. Refined or processed grains are different from whole grains and are less nutrient-dense. During the refining process of grains, the kernel is cracked and many nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytoestrogens are lost in the process.

Research suggests that whole grains keep people feeling fuller longer, causing most people to eat less than if they were consuming refined grains. Studies also suggest that consuming whole grains may also protect against diabetes and diverticulitis, and can help promote heart health, intestinal health and weight loss.

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers the following key recommendations for consuming grains:

• Choose fiber-rich whole grains often.
• Consume 6 servings per day, with half of the servings coming from whole grains.

Examples of foods from this category include whole wheat bread, English muffins, pita bread, bagels, cereals, grits, oatmeal, pasta, rice, crackers, unsalted pretzels and popcorn.

Source: USDA and HHS 2005 Dietary Guidelines; www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines; http://komotv.com, March 23, 2005

Consumer Approach to Weight Loss Emphasizes Healthy Lifestyle and Calorie Control
A new Dieting Trends report from Data monitor suggests a marked shift in consumer approach to weight loss in Europe and the United States. While extreme diets have been the most popular diet regimens with adults for the past few years, a large number of adults have shifted away from extreme dieting, and now believe in more sensible weight loss approaches. According to the consumer surveys and market trends for diet products and diet companies used to create the report, “Consumers are increasingly looking to make little lifestyle changes to control their weight…they are more likely to follow these changes for longer than if they were to make more drastic ones,” notes the survey’s author. Diets that promote strict practices are causing a backlash of cynicism among dieters who have a hard time staying on these diets or keeping the weight off that was lost through such diets. Smaller portions and increased activity are becoming more prevalent and popular among health- and weight-conscious adults.

The report’s author also predicts that according to continued rising rates of overweight and obesity, European and U.S. consumers will increase the amount of money spent on diet-related foods and beverages from US $86.8 billion in 2003 to an estimated US $100 billion in 2008.

Source: Datamonitor – Dieting Trends Report; Nutra Ingredients, March 18, 2005

Research Suggests Wine in Moderation Keeps Women’s Hearts Healthy
A recent study published in the February edition of the British Medical Association’s specialist journal Heart suggests that women who have experienced heart attack or had heart surgery for blocked arteries may reduce their risk of additional heart problems by consuming a glass of wine a day. The reduced risk of heart disease and heart conditions was strongly associated with a regular intake of wine, as opposed to intake of beer or liquor. In addition, binge drinking (consuming more than 2 servings per sitting for women) was not associated with reduced heart disease risk, and may actually increase detriment to heart health.

Another study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests that red wine has a positive effect on heart health because it contains polyphenols, a powerful anti-oxidant found in many red wines. Polyphenols are found in fruit (particularly berries), chocolate and green tea.

Source: British Medical Association, February 2005; Reuter’s Health, February 14, 2005; Journal of the American College of Surgeons, March 2005; Medical News Today, March 18, 2005

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Including an Apple in Your Daily Diet May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
A study from Cornell University suggests that women can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by including apples in their diet. The study’s findings were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The researchers suggest that eating one apple a day could reduce risk by 17 percent, eating three apples a day could reduce risk by 39 percent, and eating six apples a day could reduce risk by 44 percent. Researchers found that a daily diet including apples not only prevented the disease from occurring in certain test subjects, it also appeared to prevent the spread of the disease in rats already showing incidence of breast cancer. Researchers believe the apples are successful at preventing or slowing cancer growth because they are so antioxidant-rich.

Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; The Herald, March 7, 2005

Obesity Linked to Type of Carbohydrate Consumed, Not Amount
Research published in February’s American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that it’s the type of carbohydrates people consume that contribute to overweight and obesity. The study found that people who are overweight or obese do not appear to eat more total carbohydrates as compared to those of normal weight. Rather, the study found that those with a higher body mass index (measure of weight that factors in height) tend to consume a greater amount of refined carbohydrates with a higher glycemic index (such as white bread and pasta) in their diet. The study’s findings suggest that including carbohydrates in the diet does not contribute to weight gain, but that eating a large amount of refined carbohydrates (which cause a rapid rise in blood sugar) may. The body stores this blood sugar in muscle, and if not used, the extra sugar is stored as fat. Carbohydrates from whole rains, fruits and vegetables have a lower glycemic index and do not cause a spike in blood sugar.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology, February 2005; Reuter’s Health, February 16, 2005

Portion Sizes Often Overlooked, Consumers Often Overeat
Portion sizes recommended by food labels and the government are often overlooked, according to behavioral studies. The studies suggest that people who read food labels generally take note of calories, and do not take into account the portion or serving size associated with those calories. Many food labels list multiple servings sizes, yet only notate the calorie amount for a single serving size rather than an entire package of food. Thus, many people end up eating multiple servings and consuming a greater number of calories than they realize. In addition, serving sizes have steadily risen at restaurants, and eateries over the past 20 years. Dietitians suggest measuring food portions and paying attention to serving sizes on food labels in order to control calorie intake. In addition, Vanderbilt University’s Wellness Center has put together a few tips for consumers. They suggest that using your hand as a measure can effectively help you gauge portions of certain types of foods when measuring utensils and scales aren’t available. The American Dietetic Association also offers some visualizing techniques for determining portion size based on everyday objects:

Palm of your hand or a deck of cards
What it Measures: About 3-oz., or one serving of meat.

Fist or tennis ball
What it Measures: About 1 cup, which is 1 serving of raw vegetables or 2 servings of cooked vegetables, cut fruit or pasta.

Three dominoes stacked together
What it Measures: 1.5 ounces, or a serving size of cheese.

Two small handfuls
What it Measures: 1 serving of most snack foods such as chips, pretzels, popcorn or granola.

Tip of thumb to the first joint
What it Measures: 1 teaspoon, which is 1 serving of margarine or butter

Ping Pong Ball
What it Measures: 2 tablespoons, or the serving size of peanut butter.

Source: American Dietetic Association; NBC San Diego, March 3, 2005; Vanderbilt University’s Wellness Center

Diet High in Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables May Lower Disability Risk
Research from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center suggests that following the 2005 Dietary Guidelines may decrease functional limitations, disability and the overall prevalence of disease. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that consumption of dairy products, fruits and vegetables may lower disability risk, especially among black women.

The study found that those who consumed the highest amounts of these foods had a much lower disability risk than those who consumed the lowest amounts of these foods. The black women included in the study who ate more of these foods experienced a 30 percent lower risk. In addition, the more dairy, fruits and vegetables that people ate, the less likely they were to experience functional limitations, such as experiencing problems with dressing themselves, climbing stairs or walking a quarter mile.

The researchers believe increased consumption of calcium, vitamin D and antioxidants contributed to the lower risk of disability.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; www.thepilot.com, February 16, 2005

Americans Spend More Than 50 Percent of Food Dollars on Food Eaten Outside the Home
More than half of all food dollars spent in the United States every year are spent on foods eaten in restaurants and fast food establishments. Eating out used to be a special occasion or time for indulgence, whereas eating out is now more a part of everyday life. Balancing proper nutrition when “eating out” has thus become more important for Americans than ever before. Restaurants that offer healthier options and preparation methods, as well as controlled portion sizes allow consumers to make better nutritional decisions when dining out.

Below are some ways to manage calories while eating out:

• Walk up to the restaurant to pick up food rather than driving through.
• Walk to a restaurant from your home or office rather than driving there.
• Go for a short walk with family or friends while waiting to be seated at a restaurant.
• Order a smaller portion size if available, or order an appetizer for your main meal.
• Share large portions, meals or desserts with someone.
• Eat half of your meal, and take the leftovers home with you. Put half in a to-go box as soon as the food arrives to avoid temptation.
• Start with small servings. If you are still hungry afterwards, order something else.

Source: Nutrition News – Billings Gazette, February 16, 2005

Diet and Exercise Help Treat and Prevent Rising Blood Sugar Levels
Although it has been known for years that Type II diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes, comes on gradually, doctors did not learn until recently that rising blood sugar levels and other diabetes precursors could be treated to ward off the actual onset of diabetes.

The Diabetes Prevention Program Study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002 suggests that diet, exercise and certain medications can slow or even reverse the progression of pre-diabetes to diabetes. The study found that those who exercised half an hour, five days a week, and lost seven percent of their weight were 58 percent less likely to develop diabetes after three years. Preventing the onset of diabetes can also prevent such complications as blindness, kidney disease and amputation.

An estimated 41 million Americans are thought to have pre-diabetes. Researchers from Emory University are currently studying ways to screen the general population for pre-diabetes with a simple test and minimal cost.

The American Diabetes Association suggests that people who are 45 and older and overweight and younger overweight adults who have other risk factors should be screened for pre-diabetes. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, a family history of diabetes or gestational diabetes. Testing for pre-diabetes involves a fasting plasma glucose test or oral glucose tolerance test.

Source: American Diabetes Association; Emory University; Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 15, 2005

Functional Foods and Supplements Help Reduce Heart Disease Risk
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 700,000 deaths in the United States alone were attributed to heart disease in 2002. Many consumers are aware that reducing the risk of heart disease includes proper diet and exercise. However, research has suggested that the inclusion of certain functional foods and supplements as part of daily diet and nutrition can further the prevention and reduction of heart disease risk by promoting cardiovascular wellness. The FDA has approved heart-health claims for foods such as soy, fiber and olive oil, as well as a qualified health claim for nuts. Eating foods that contain the below nutrients may help repair existing damage and/or reduce the risk of future cardiovascular ailments.

These heart-healthy nutrients include:
Fiber – The FDA has established a qualified health claim that dietary fiber is a good way to help prevent coronary heart disease (CHD). Fiber may also help the health of arteries, and may even help prevent arterial diseases.

Fish Oil – A functional food that can be found naturally in the diet, as well as in supplement form. According to a report in the August 2004 issue of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, fish oil helps lower cholesterol, has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces the risk of death from heart attack.

Folic Acid – The American Heart Association reports that folic acid may reduce young women’s risk of high blood pressure. It also has been shown to boost arterial health in men by reducing their risk for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Garlic – In the form of ages garlic extract (AGE), this supplement may reduce blood pressure, platelet aggregation and cholesterol. AGE may also slow coronary calcification, which leads to plaque formation in arteries.

Ginseng – This herb has antioxidant properties and there is some evidence that it may improve lipid levels, manage high blood pressure and improve cardiovascular function.

Green Tea – This drink may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) according to research published in the Circulation Journal.

Lycopene – An antioxidant that may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Olive Oil – The FDA has approved a qualified health claim for olive oil stating that the intake of 23 grams of olive oil may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Omega-3 Fatty Acids – These healthful fats also have a qualified health claim from the FDA that states intake of this nutrient will help prevent CVD. Omega-3s also slow the development of plaque build-up that leads to atherosclerosis.

Resveratrol – An antioxidant found in grape skins, red wine and peanuts, resveratrol strengthens heart health, prevents LDL oxidation and platelet aggregation.

Soy – A study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that the subjects with the highest soy food intakes had a reduced risk of heart disease. Soy has been given a qualified heart- health claim by the FDA as well.

Plant Sterols and Stanols – A functional food naturally found in many foods such as pecans, as well as added to certain foods such as margarine for their health benefits, sterols and stanols help improve cholesterol levels.

Source: Better Nutrition, February 2005

Adding a Salad as a First Course May Reduce Overall Caloric Intake
Research from Penn State University suggests that eating a salad prior to the main course of a meal can help reduce the total amount of calories consumed at one meal. Head researcher Barbara Rolls hypothesized that eating a salad beforehand would help fill a person up with fewer calories. When the main course of the meal is served, less of the calorie-dense food would be eaten as the person would reach satiety earlier, as compared with someone who had no salad as a first course. When including a salad as a first course served before the rest of a meal, study participants ate about 100 calories less, as compared to meals in which they were not served a salad beforehand.

The salads included lettuce, grated carrots, tomato, celery and cucumber with limited amounts of reduced-fat dressing. The study findings specify that the salads should be large (about three cups) and relatively low-calorie for the overall calorie reduction to occur. In fact, when salads slightly higher in fat and calorie content were served to study participants, the overall calorie consumption remained the same. When participants were served large portions of high-calorie salads (including cheese and regular dressings), the overall calorie intake actually increased by 17 percent.

Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, October 2004

Finding the “Best” Diet
A study from the January edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association compares four popular diets in an attempt to find the best overall approach to weight loss. Forty overweight or obese adults were assigned to the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers or Zone weight loss programs for one year. According to head researcher, Michael Dansinger, the weight loss differences between the plans were not considered significant. The diets that worked the best (the most successful in terms of weight loss) were the diets that were followed most closely, suggesting that successful weight loss was dependent upon how closely one stuck with their diet, rather than which diet they followed. In other words, the diet that someone likes the best is the one they are most likely to follow properly, and thus the diet that will work the best for them. Dansinger notes, “Most eating strategies will work well if you stick closely. The key is finding a plan you can stick to.”

Key findings from the study reaffirm previous advice for those seeking weight loss: weight loss should be accomplished slowly with exercise and a reasonable eating plan that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. A well-rounded nutritious diet is important, as well as the balance of calorie intake versus calorie expenditure. However, Dansinger’s study suggests, “different programs in different places work for different people.”

Source: WebMD Medical News, January 2005

2005 Dietary Guidelines Released
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released updated dietary guidelines for healthier living. The guidelines offer suggested servings for various food groups in order to promote healthy eating. The new update also stresses the need for Americans to manage weight and increase physical fitness. According to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, “Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, and more than 50 percent of us Americans do not get the recommended amount of physical activity. So the 2005 guidelines emphasize physical activity and calorie control more than ever before.”

The guidelines have been described by the USDA and HHS as an important tool in fighting the nation’s weight epidemic. The guidelines note, “When it comes to body weight control it is calories that count – not the proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein in the diet.”

Specific recommendations include (based on a 1,600-2,000 calorie diet):

• 7-9 servings per day of fruits and vegetables
• 6 servings per day of grains (with half of the servings coming from whole grains)
• 2-3 servings per day of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods
• 1-2 servings per day of meat, poultry or fish
• 3-4 servings per day of nuts, seeds or legumes
• 2 servings per week of fats and oils
• Less than 10 percent of calories should come from saturated fats. Total fat intake should make up no more than 25 to 30 percent of total calories.
• Foods should be fiber-rich and contain little added sugars or caloric sweeteners.
• Those who choose to drink alcoholic beverages should do so sensibly and in moderation – up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.
• To prevent gradual weight gain over time, make small decreases in food and beverage calories and increase physical activity.

Source: 2005 Dietary Guidelines, www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/, January 12, 2005; U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; MSNBC Interactive, January 12, 2005

A Change in Diet Could Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
A study from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine involving the calorie intake of mice could lead to information that would assist humans in the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The study’s findings suggest that a calorie-controlled diet may help slow or prevent the onset of AD. The mice in the study, which were genetically modified to develop the disease were split into two groups, one of which was fed an uncontrolled diet, with the other group consuming a controlled calorie diet that contained 30 percent fewer calories than the first group. The diet with 30 percent fewer calories prevented the development of plaque in the brain that leads to AD.

While the mice in the reduced-calorie group consumed fewer calories, they consumed enough for proper nutrition and stayed within the limits of a healthy weight. The findings serve as an indication that those who consume reduced-calorie diets have a lower possibility of developing AD. This is the first study to suggest that dietary changes could offer a solution for preventing Alzheimer’s.

Source: Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine, January 12, 2005

State of American’s Health Possibly Due to Nation’s Poor Breakfast Habits
Results from a recent consumer survey looking at the breakfast habits and trends of American adults were released at the 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly last October. The survey found that while 96 percent of people feel that consuming breakfast is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle, almost 33 percent of Americans do not eat breakfast every morning. Another 25 percent reported they consume breakfast only three out of five weekdays. Many of those who skip breakfast say they do so due to time restraints or inconvenience.

However, consuming a breakfast everyday that includes whole grains, protein fruit or fruit juices not only adds proper nutrition to the diet, it also supplies needed energy to the body, increasing productivity and efficiency of the body systems. Research has shown that people who eat a well-balanced breakfast tend to have more nutritious diets than those who regularly skip breakfast. Those who eat breakfast typically consume greater amounts of fiber, vitamins and minerals in their overall diet, and consume lesser amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol. Studies have also shown that eating a nutritious breakfast on a daily basis may reduce the risk of Type II diabetes. Those who skip breakfast are more than four times as likely to be obese as well.

Source: America’s Breakfast Council; Florida Department of Citrus; PRNewswire.com, January 5, 2005

Mediterranean-Style Diet Benefits Health
As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the diet imitating the popular eating habits of southern Europeans, the Mediterranean-style diet, has shown significant health benefits, and may even help people live a longer life. Studies on the diet – high in fish, whole grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables and olive oil; moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages; and low in meat, dairy products and polyunsaturated fat – have demonstrated that the diet appears to lower the risk for metabolic syndrome (a condition characterized by obesity, hypertension and increased blood sugar), heart disease, stroke and heart attack for people of all ages.

A study reported in JAMA that tracked 2,300 people ages 70-90 in Europe showed that the individuals following a Mediterranean diet had a combined 23 percent lower rate of death from all causes. Those who also incorporated exercise and didn’t smoke had a 65 percent lower rate of death. The study’s findings suggest that beginning this type of healthy lifestyle can increase the longevity of life, even once you have reached an older age.

A second JAMA study of people with metabolic syndrome showed that after two years on a Mediterranean diet, the subjects lost weight, lowered blood pressure, and decreased glucose, insulin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. Also, the HDL (good) cholesterol levels increased significantly. At the end of the study, the group following a Mediterranean diet had reduced the incidence of metabolic syndrome by more than half as compared to the control group.

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association; Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter, November 2004

Cortisol and Appetite Hormones Often a Side-Effect of Stress
Hormonal changes due to high amounts of stress may be the cause of weight gain in certain individuals. However, recent advertising campaigns that offer products to normalize hormone levels and decrease body weight may not be the answer according to the Federal Trade Commission and scientists from Yale University.

Cortisol, a hormone that is produced and released when the body is faced with stress, provides fuel for the body to use in “fight or flight” reactions. However, much stress in today’s society is more emotional, meaning that the body doesn’t use the cortisol released into the body. Recent studies have shown that in times of chronic work overload, worry and other emotional stress, bodies retain large amounts of cortisol. Findings also show that individuals whose cortisol levels increased the most in response to stress had a greater proportion of waistline fat. These findings suggest that a greater proportion of waistline fat is related to increased levels of ongoing stress. Greater stress has also been linked to a lack of or interrupted sleep, which may lead to lower levels of the hormone leptin. Lower levels of leptin can cause an increased appetite, leading people to desire additional food that the body doesn’t necessarily need.

In order to control stress and its influence on weight, Yale University researchers and doctors propose making life changes (such as time management, exercise, etc.) to cope or reduce stress. Turning to herbal products that claim they can lower cortisol levels and result in weight loss have no scientific research to back their claims.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research, Nutrition Notes, December 2004; MSNBC.com

Consumption of Dairy Products May Decrease Children’s Blood Pressure
A recent study reported in the Journal of Epidemiology suggests that children who consume more dairy products, along with fruits and vegetables, on a regular basis may have lower blood pressure compared to children who eat low amounts of these foods. The information, gathered from children aged three to six over a period of eight years, suggests that developing healthy eating habits even at a young age may have long-term health benefits. Children with lower blood pressures are more likely to carry low-blood pressure and healthy lifestyles into adolescence and further into adulthood, making them less likely to develop hypertension as adults. According to the World Health Organization, high blood pressure can be attributed to two-thirds of strokes and half the incidence of heart disease.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute suggests there is a strong correlation between childhood obesity and the incidence of childhood hypertension. According to current U.S. statistics, greater than 15 percent of school-aged children are overweight or obese, prompting the NHLBI to label childhood hypertension a significant health issue.

Source: Journal of Epidemiology, January 2005; Food Navigator, January 4, 2005

Obesity Just as Dangerous as Heart Failure
A study out of William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan suggests obese individuals are as unhealthy as patients with heart failure, and are probably just as likely to die.

The study found that individuals who are morbidly obese (100+ pounds overweight) have a cardio respiratory fitness like those individuals with terminal heart failure. This means that the morbidly obese are less likely to survive heart attacks and bad infections, similar to heart failure patients. They are also subject to severe breathing difficulty and other cardio respiratory malfunctions. In addition, researchers involved with the study found that the money spent in one month by an overweight and obese man at a pharmacy is significantly higher than the amount of money a man of healthy weight will spend.

Research findings also suggest that the obese and those with heart failure die 15 years earlier on average than individuals with normal body weight and normal heart function.

Source: American Heart Association; Reuter’s Health, November 10, 2004

New Research Suggests Low-Fat Plans Work Better for Weight Loss than Low-Carbohydrate Diets
At a recent meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, a study was presented in which Doctors studied 2,700 people in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) to determine whether a certain type of diet made a difference in how much weight someone had lost and how much weight had been regained a year later. The findings suggest that those who have lost weight, regardless of how they lost it, will be able to keep the weight off more successfully by following a low-fat diet, rather than a low-carbohydrate one. The results show that those who increased their fat intake during the year of maintenance following their initial weight loss, regained more weight.

Although people were able to lose similar amounts of weight in the initial stages of either type of program, those on low-carbohydrate diets regained more weight during the maintenance period of the plan, than those who stuck with a low-fat diet. The study’s findings suggest that the majority of individuals who keep the weight off eat a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.

According to the market research firm, Insight Express, more than half of Americans who have begun a low-carbohydrate diet have given up. Dr. William Dietz, director of chronic disease prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that it remains difficult to determine whether or not low-carbohydrate plans really work because so many people find it hard to stick with such a strict diet regimen for an extended period of time.

Source: North American Asso

ciation for the Study of Obesity; Associated Press, November 15, 2004; Fox News, November 15, 2004

Research Offers Insight to Satiety and Sensible Weight Loss
Barbara Rolls, professor and researcher at Pennsylvania State University, recently presented her latest research on food density and satiety at the annual meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity in Las Vegas.

The study’s findings, which included overweight and normal weight women, suggest that maintaining or increasing the amount of food you eat (in portion size), but reducing the energy (calorie) density of each portion will result in consumption of fewer total calories, while allowing individuals to feel just as full. Rolls’ suggests that the key to feeling satisfied by the food one eats is eating the portion size or volume of food that one normally consumes. This research offers good news for those looking to reduce their weight and control obesity. Reducing the calorie density of foods was associated with a 23 percent decrease (on average) in total calorie consumption for those in the study, while allowing the participants to remain satiated by their diet.

The study, titled “Combined effects of energy density and portion size on energy intake in women,” was originally published in the June 2004 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2004; North American Association for the Study of Obesity, December 2004; www.thefactsaboutfitness.com, December 2004

Body Cues That You May Not Be Eating a Balanced Diet
We always hear that proper nutrition is important, but perhaps don’t fully understand why. Nutrients in our diet are important for the body’s functions. If the body is lacking in certain nutrients, it can offer many clues as to what may be missing from the diet, simply by the body’s appearance and function. The following are ways in which the body can sometimes provide clues as to what nutrients it may be missing out on:

Thinning hair: Lack of iron. Natural sources of iron can be found in red meat, liver, canned tuna, spinach and many fortified cereals.

Eyesight problems: Lack of vitamin A and C. Carrots, green leafy vegetables, fruit and sweet potatoes are all good sources of vitamin A. Vitamin C can be found in oranges, kiwi, citrus fruits and berries. Fresh vegetables also provide vitamin C.

Cracking at the corners of the mouth: Lack of Riboflavin (B2) and B6. B2 can be found in whole grains like brown rice and bread, cheese, fortified breakfast cereals and green leafy vegetables. B6 can be obtained from bananas, chicken, fish and baked beans. These two vitamins complement each other in the body.

Rough, dry skin: Lack of vitamin A and E and essential fatty acids. Oily fish (mackeral, salmon and herring) and seeds are good sources of essential fatty acids, while carrots are a great source of vitamin A. Vitamin E can be found in oils, nuts and some greens.

Brittle or split nails: Lack of calcium. Low-fat milk, cheese and yogurt, beans and greens are sources of calcium.

Stretch marks: Lack of zinc. Good sources of zinc can be found in lean steak, nuts, wheat germ and egg yolk.

Cellulite: Lack of vitamin C and fiber. Citrus fruits and berries contain vitamin C, while brown rice, whole grains, beans and oats can provide fiber.

Varicose veins: Lack of bioflavonoids. These nutrients can be found in dark-colored fruits and berries such as plums, purple grapes, blueberries and cranberries.

Source: Red Nova, October 28, 2004

Fitness and Healthy Diet May Prevent Dementia
A new study from the National Institute on Aging, the University of California at San Francisco, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of Tennessee at Memphis found that a healthy diet and staying active and fit may help prevent dementia in the elderly. Researchers studied 2,632 people ages 70 to 79 and found that older people who have metabolic syndrome (characterized by various cardiovascular risk factors such as abdominal fat, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels) have a 20 percent higher risk of cognitive impairment compared to those older people without metabolic syndrome. According to the American Heart Association, as many as one in four Americans have symptoms of metabolic syndrome.

The researchers suggest that metabolic changes in the body (such as due to a poor diet and lack of exercise) can affect the arrangement of blood vessels in the body and how the body responds to stress. The blood vessels thus become less reactive to stress and may lead to a decrease of energy and blood vessel activity in the brain. The study’s findings suggest that people can potentially lower their risk for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other cognitive decline by living a healthier lifestyle years before.

Source: Health Day News, November 10, 2004

Whole Grains May Help Maintain Reduced Weight for Reasons Other Than Fiber
Research from the Harvard School of Public Health has indicated a strong association between consumption of whole grains and a long-term reduced weight that may be due to something other than fiber. The study, published in the August edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that increased consumption of whole grains is inversely related to weight gain even when total fiber and bran intake remained constant. The researchers believe that whole grains may cause positive metabolic changes in the body that will reduce long-term weight gain. The trial of over 27,000 men aged 40 to 75 years was one of the first studies that examined the benefits other than fiber of whole grains on weight loss. No associations were observed between refined grains and body weight.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, August 2004; Food Navigator, August 11, 2004

New Studies Show Apples are “Stars” of Cancer Prevention
Research from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research suggests that apples and diets high in vegetables provide powerful antioxidants (substances which protect the body from free radical damage) and can not only offer cancer prevention benefits, they may also kill existing cancer cells.

The researchers suggest that if more people included at least three servings of antioxidant-rich fruits, especially apples, and vegetables in their diet each day, the cancer rate would reduce significantly. Additional research from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine studied the diets of 450 men and women diagnosed with lymphoma. The findings of the study suggest that three or more servings of vegetables a day, not including potatoes, can reduce the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 40 percent.

Source: MSN Health News

Report Finds Americans’ Average Weight is Heavier
A new government report released by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the U.S. population is slightly taller than in years past, but also much heavier. The report states that on average adult men and women are about an inch taller, while they are also 25 pounds heavier than they were in 1960. The average BMI has risen from 25 in 1960 to its current average of 28. A BMI of 20-24 is considered healthy, while 25-29 is considered overweight, and 30+ is considered obese. The average weight of an adult male in 1960 was 166.3 pounds, a number that has increased to 191 pounds. The average adult female in 1960 weighed in at 140 pounds, while today’s average female weight is 164.3 pounds.

The same trend holds true for children and teenagers as well. The average weight of 10-year-old boys and girls has risen by 11 pounds since 1963. The average BMI of 16-year-old males and females has risen from 21 to 24.

A spokesperson from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that these findings prove the country is facing an ominous trend that will have profound health impacts on children, adults and seniors throughout the country. The American Obesity Association estimates 127 million people are overweight, 60 million people are obese and 9 million people are severely obese within the U.S.

Source: Reuters Health

Slimming Down May Lead to a Longer Life
Research out of the University of Florida that has focused on leptin, a crucial weight-control gene, suggests that without adequate leptin, animals have a tendency to overeat and gain weight. The researchers studied a group of mice that lacked leptin and found them to be nearly twice as heavy as normal mice.

Once the researchers restored the proper amount of the weight-control gene to a subgroup of the mice, they were able to lose weight. Two-thirds of the mice who were treated with leptin outlived every mouse in the untreated group.

The study’s findings suggest that those who are obese that lose weight have a greater chance of lengthening life span. Health professionals find the information encouraging because research has also suggested that obesity causes life-shortening metabolic diseases, and these new findings may help reverse the existing trend.

Source: Health Day News; Yahoo News

Diabetes and Heart Disease Risk Indicated by Waist Circumference
Research has indicated that the risk for diabetes and heart disease is more closely linked to waist circumference than to overall weight, according to professor Anthony Barnett of the U.K.’s University of Birmingham. Although carrying around extra weight anywhere on the body is detrimental to overall health, research suggests that fat deposited on the stomach or abdomen further increases the health threat of developing diabetes by 2 to 4 times that of those with “thinner” waistlines. The study’s findings indicate that women with waistlines of over 35 inches, and men with waistlines of over 40 inches are at a very high risk for both Type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In addition, the extra fat cells around a person’s midsection cause stress around vital organs that may lead to high blood pressure, as well as raise cholesterol levels. These problems greatly raise a person’s risk for heart disease.

Source: Reuter’s Health, October 13, 2004

Smaller Portions Are An Important Solution to Obesity Epidemic
Research published in the October edition of the Journal of Nutrition indicates that young adults are more likely to overeat when served larger portions of food. The study’s findings suggest that the growing obesity problem in the United States is due in large part to expanding portion sizes. The study found that when students were served 125-150% of their normal amounts of food, they consumed an average of 273 extra calories per person. The study was based on previous research that theorized that the obesity epidemic was linked to increased portion sizes in restaurants and supermarkets.

The researchers of the study hope this information will further offer guidance on how to reverse the growing obesity trend.

Source: Journal of Nutrition, October 2004; www.cornellsun.com

National Weight Control Registry Offers Secrets For Successful Weight Loss
A group of nearly 3,000 people who have successfully lost 30 pounds and kept it off for more than a year offers great hope for those looking to lose weight and change their lifestyle the healthy way. Researchers analyzed the group, all members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), in order to determine how they have been able to not only lose weight, but also maintain their reduced weight. The researchers found the following tips from patterns in the group’s successful weight loss efforts:

• Exercise. Members of the NWCR burned an average of 400 calories per day through additional activity and exercise. Experts agree that anyone starting an exercise plan should start small, by incorporating additional activity, and then working up to their goal.
• Eat fewer calories. Researchers found that members of the NWCR consumed an average of 1,400 calories per day. Registered dietitians can advise individuals on the appropriate amount of calories they need to lose and then maintain weight.
• Consume more fruits and vegetables and lower-fat foods.
• Weekly weigh-ins. While people should not obsess over the numbers on the scale, keeping track of one’s weight is important for weight maintenance.
• Eat breakfast. Seventy-eight percent of those in the NWCR ate breakfast every day.

Source: U.S. National Weight Control Registry; www.billingsgazette.com, October 20, 2004

Schools Across Nation Add Healthier Foods to School Lunches
According to recent findings from federal researchers, the percentage of school-age children who are overweight has risen to 15 percent. Additional research suggests that these overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults as well, eventually facing health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. In order to help battle the growing overweight and obesity epidemic, many schools are making significant improvements in nutrition. According to Barbara Belmont, the executive director of the School Nutrition Association, “The whole obesity issue…has really awakened parents to the needs of kids [and] what they are eating.” The obesity issue has become a catalyst for change in improving nutrition in schools.

The national trend of offering healthier choices for school lunches is growing. Some of the changes being made include adding more fruits and vegetables to meal options, and offering “grab-and-go” salads and sandwiches to the menu. Some schools are even adding whole-wheat pizza with low-fat cheese, while others are no longer serving deep-fried foods. In order to encourage children and adolescents to eat right, schools are trying to focus on adding healthier options, as well as reducing the fat and calories in existing lunch favorites.

Source: Associated Press, October 3, 2004

Consumption of Dairy Products May Reduce Weight and Trans-Fat Intake
Research released earlier this year has suggested that due to their high calcium content, dairy products can help cells burn fat and control satiety (helping people full fuller sooner, and thus helping people to avoid overeating). In addition, dairy can provide other health benefits for weight loss and maintenance.

Dairy ingredients are naturally very low in trans fat, a type of fat which research has suggested increases the risk of heart disease. As of January 1, 2006, trans-fat content must be included on food labels, and foods containing less than 0.5g of trans-fat may be labeled as a “trans-fat free” product. Even whole milk, which contains 3.25g of fat per 100g, has only 0.3g of trans-fat, thus allowing it to carry the claim “trans-fat free”. Skim milk, which can be labeled as fat free, contains no trans-fat.

In addition, using dairy ingredients such as whey proteins and lipids, can provide texture and emulsification (properties that fats provide to food products) to foods, and can thus be added to foods as a fat replacer. These ingredients can be used in foods such as frozen dairy desserts, baked goods and cheese sauces to reduce the amount of fat and thus trans-fat in the products.

Source: Nutritional Outlook, September 2004

Healthy Eating Tips From Registered Dietitians
The American Dietetic Association hosted its annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo October 2-5, 2004. Thousands of registered dietitians gathered in Anaheim, Calif. earlier this week to attend seminars, gather information and discuss health and nutrition. USA Today recently asked many registered dietitians from across the country to contribute their health and nutrition wisdom in the form of weight-loss and weight maintenance tips. These tips provide ideas for small changes in your lifestyle that can be sustained for a lifetime. If you are looking to reduce calorie intake, control cravings, and properly fuel your body, consider trying the following tips compiled by the USA Today staff:

• “You should divide your calories evenly through the day, which means you will have a bigger breakfast and a lighter dinner.”
  -Katherine Tallmadge, Washington, D.C.
• “Occasionally allow yourself smaller portions of your favorite foods. The greater the restriction, the greater the chance of abandoning your plan.”
  -Faye Berger Mitchell, Bethesda, Md.
• “When eating out, be assertive. Ask the waiter to remove the bread from the table, ask for the salad dressing and sauces on the side and insist that they broil or grill the meat, not fry it.”
  -Mary Scioscia, East Hampton, N.Y.
• “Don’t get too hungry. A body that gets too hungry is driven to overeat.”
  -Nancy Clark, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Source: USA Today; www.eatright.org

Liposuction Removes Fat, Does Not Improve Overall Health
A recent study by the Washington University School of Medicine suggests that the loss of body fat through traditional means such as diet and exercise results in numerous health benefits, while a loss of body fat through the surgical removal of fat tissue does not result in these benefits. The researchers studied the effects of liposuction on 15 obese women, checking specific health markers before and after the surgery. The liposuction removed approximately 20 pounds of abdominal fat from each woman. These women did not experience improvements in cholesterol levels, blood pressure or insulin sensitivity.

Head researcher Samuel Klein, M.D. suggests that weight loss through diet and exercise produces weight and fat tissue loss from all over the body, including around the liver, and also reduces the size of individual fat cells throughout the body. Liposuction simply removes fat from one area of the body, causing no effect on the size of fat cells throughout the body. Fat cells surrounding muscle tissue and the liver, not readily accessible via liposuction removal, may release harmful substances that contribute to high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. Liposuction may still be helpful for the obese by initiating motivation for diet and lifestyle changes, however the researchers agree that overall health is only achieved through weight loss from a healthy diet and exercise.

Source: Tufts University Health and Nutrition Newsletter, August 2004

Children’s Bodies Need Fuel Every Three to Four Hours
While young children do not require as many calories as teenagers or active adults, they do require adequate fuel spread throughout their day. In order to recharge their bodies, growing and active children need energy every three to four hours. This will give children the energy they need to stay alert while at school, as well as the energy to do homework and play outside after school, rather than simply sitting in front of the television when they arrive home.

As the obesity epidemic continues to affect many young children, the key is to develop good eating habits while children are young by providing healthy and nutritious snacks that are also fulfilling. The time between breakfast and lunch, and then lunch and dinner can be a long time for a child’s body to go without any energy. Research has shown that children who eat regular meals and moderate amounts of healthy snacks are less likely to overeat and gain weight than children who skip meals and then overeat later on. It’s also important that children only snack when they are hungry, rather than eating because they are bored or want a treat. Keeping high-fat and high-calorie snacks out of the kitchen will also help develop healthy eating habits. The following are some healthy snack ideas for children:

• Apple and banana slices spread with peanut butter.
• Nuts (such as pecans or peanuts) and pretzels.
• Low-fat cheese on whole-grain crackers.
• Milkshakes made with nonfat milk, nonfat frozen yogurt or sorbet.
• For beverages, serve low-fat milk, 100 percent juice or water.
• Ready-to-eat cut veggies (such as carrot sticks, cucumbers and grape tomatoes) served with low-fat dip.
• Sugar-free pudding or gelatin.

Source: The (Monroe, La.) News-Star, August 20, 2004

Sedentary Men Can Reduce Risk of Diabetes With Exercise and Diet
Study findings at the University of Western Australia suggest that vigorous exercise reduces the risk of diabetes among overweight, sedentary men. By reducing the amount of calories they consume each day, these men could reduce their diabetes risk even further. Head researcher Dr. Kathy Cox states, “The findings are important as the incidence of overweight and diabetes are on the increase in western countries. We need to put prevention programs into place now before it is too late.”

The study found that intense half-hour long sessions of exercise done three times a week lowered blood glucose levels by 13 percent and lowered blood insulin levels by 20 percent. These levels were much lower than the glucose and insulin levels of light-exercising men. The men who combined the exercise with restricting their calorie intake were able to lose a significant amount of weight and had a nearly six percent reduction in body fat. In addition, their blood insulin levels were lowered by 40 percent.

The researchers suggest that taking up exercise, even after leading a sedentary lifestyle, can improve health. Those who are overweight should begin an exercise program that is non-weight bearing, such as swimming or cycling, in order to minimize their risk of joint problems. Even if weight is not lost, significant improvements in glucose levels and overall health can result.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, August 2003

Nutrient-Poor Foods Make Up Nearly One-Third of U.S. Diet
A recent survey of 4,700 individuals published in the Journal of Food Chemistry and Analysis determined that on average, the high-calorie foods lacking in nutrient-value that Americans eat make up nearly one-third of the calories in their diets. The study found that sweets, desserts, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages comprise almost 25 percent of the calories consumed, while another five percent of Americans’ calories come from salty snacks and sugar-flavored drinks.

Author of the study, Gladys Block, professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of California-Berkeley, notes that although many Americans are overweight and obese, they are still undernourished at the same time because many of the foods Americans consume are high in calories, yet low in nutrients.

Although all foods, even occasional indulgences of high-calorie choices, can have a place in a healthy diet, the key is moderation. In general, Americans should seek out more nutrient-dense food choices such as fruits, vegetables, whole-grains and lean meats. Many Americans use the excuse that they don’t have the time to eat healthy. However, there are many healthy alternatives that are convenient as well. Foods like prepackaged low-fat and no sugar added yogurt and gelatin, as well as low-fat string cheese, baked crackers, nuts, fruits and low-fat granola bars can be packed away in your bag for “on-the-go” sustenance. Lack of time should never be used as an excuse for eating poorly.

Source: CBS Broadcast – August 30, 200

Most Heart Attacks Can Be Avoided With Lifestyle Changes
In the days following past-President Clinton’s quadruple-bypass surgery, heart disease and risks for heart attack have quickly been thrown into the spotlight. However, cardiologists are quick to note that there are many risk factors involved in heart disease, and eating junk food is not the only one.

A study released at a recent meeting of the European Cardiology Society showed that two specific factors are responsible for two-thirds of the global risk of heart attack. The study of more than 29,000 people in 52 countries showed that an abnormal ratio of bad to good cholesterol and smoking were found to be the factors most responsible for heart attacks around the world.

Salim Yusuf, one of the study’s researchers and a professor of medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada says, “This convincingly shows that 90 percent of the global risk of heart disease is predictable.”

By making certain simple dietary changes (listed below), people can greatly reduce their risk for heart disease and heart attack.

• Reduce saturated fats (which impact blood cholesterol levels) in your diet.
• Include monounsaturated fats (healthy fats) in your diet.
• Substitute low-fat milk for whole milk, low-fat yogurt instead of ice cream, and margarine instead of butter.
• Include one serving of an alcoholic beverage daily or a few times a week in your diet.
• Exercise regularly (30-60 minutes of vigorous activity most days of the week).

These lifestyle changes have been shown to increase the HDL, or “good” cholesterol in your body, while decreasing the amount of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol in your body. Research has shown that people who make lifestyle changes such as these can reduce their risk for heart attack and heart disease by 80 percent or more.

Other risk factors for heart attack and heart disease include genetic predisposition, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity, stress, a lack of daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and lack of daily exercise.

Source: www.msnbc.com - August 30, 2004; American Heart Association – www.americanheart.org

Obesity Increases Cancer Risk
Research has shown that excess weight may account for 14-20 percent of all cancer deaths, or about 90,000 deaths a year. Excess fat tissue has been linked to an increased risk of developing cancers of the colon, breast, uterus, kidney, esophagus, pancreas, gallbladder, liver and top of the stomach. However, excess weight has been most strongly linked to cancer of the endometrium in women. Overweight women have twice the risk of developing endometrial cancer when compared to women with a normal weight range, while obese women have as much as five times the risk. Overweight and obese men are also put at a greater risk for developing cancer, especially colon cancer, with a 50 percent increased risk as compared to men in the normal weight range.

Research has suggested that because they are metabolically active, fat cells can lead to the growth of different types of cancers. However, the link between fat cells and cancer cell growth is not yet well understood. Also, many specialists and doctors agree that being overweight is problematic for treating cancer, as the extra weight makes it more difficult to spot tumors early, catch recurrences, determine the best chemotherapy dose and even fit into radiation machines.

Source: Associated Press – August 23, 2004

Few Americans Follow the “5 a Day” Fruit and Vegetable Recommendation
A nationwide survey conducted for the Produce for Better Health Foundation has found that most Americans still aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables. Despite the popular “5 a Day For Better Health” campaign, the survey of more than 3,000 households shows that most Americans aren’t even aware of how many daily servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended as part of a healthy diet. Researchers found that 46 percent of Americans eat only one or two servings a day, and 37 percent eat three to four daily servings.

Fruits and vegetables are very nutrient-dense and provide minimal calories for the amount of nutrition they provide. They are also high in fiber keeping you feeling fuller, longer. For these reasons fruits and vegetables are important parts of any weight loss of weight maintenance program.

Here are a few ways to add more servings of fruit and vegetables into your diet so you too can have “5 a Day For Better Health.” (Each serving size listed = 1 fruit or vegetable serving)

• Slice up half a banana, ½ cup of blueberries or ½ cup of peaches and add to your breakfast cereal.
• Have ½ cup of orange juice as part of your morning routine.
• Bring carrot sticks, celery sticks or other chopped, raw veggies to work or school and have as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.
• Add a few slices of tomato to your sandwich for lunch.
• Add ½ cup dried cranberries to a lunch or dinner salad.
• Have ½ cup of apple juice with your afternoon snack.
• Add fresh chopped veggies such as bell pepper, squash or zucchini to your pasta for dinner.
• Replace a lunch or dinner side-item with a small salad.

Source: Produce for Better Health Foundation; University of Florida – College of Health and Human Performance

Number of Americans With Hypertension Has Increased Dramatically
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that the number of U.S. adults who have high blood pressure has increased from about 50 million to at least 65 million since 1994. Almost one-third of adults are now diagnosed with this condition and high blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the leading causes of premature death in this country. Hypertension is called the “silent killer” because one-third of the Americans who have it don’t know it. Larry E. Fields of the Department of Health and Human Services stresses the importance of having blood pressure checked regularly so that when high blood pressure is detected, doctors can immediately advise treatment. Left untreated, high blood pressure (defined as 140 over 90 or above) can cause stroke, heart disease or kidney failure.

Diet plays an important role in controlling blood pressure, as most people can reduce their blood pressure by losing weight, eating better and exercising. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends that adults between 19 and 50 should consume no more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium per day.

The American Dietetic Association offers these tips for reducing the risk of high blood pressure:

• Eat at least 2 to 3 servings of low-fat dairy products every day.
• Eat 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
• Stop smoking.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Lose weight if overweight.
• Increase physical activity.
• Maintain adequate calcium, magnesium, and potassium intakes for general health.
• Try to cut down on the amount of fat you eat.

Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; American Dietetic Association

Studies Address the Long-Term Results of Low-Carb vs. Low-Calorie Diets
There is much debate about which diet is best. Recent studies on the weight-loss comparison of low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diets have looked at how effective these diets are long-term and for maintenance. These studies show that after following a low-carbohydrate diet for six months, on average people lost more weight than those on traditional low-fat, low-calorie diets. However, when comparing the two diet groups after one year, the studies show there is no significant difference in the weight loss between the two groups. This information suggests that after six months, those on low-carbohydrate diets began to regain the weight they had lost, while those on the low-calorie diets continued to lose weight throughout the year.

A spokesperson from the American Dietetic Association (ADA), Christine Kreins, notes that, “People aren’t getting fat from eating carbohydrates…people are eating too much food.” Another ADA spokesperson, Laura Kruskall, explains that carbohydrates will cause you to gain weight only if you eat more calories than you burn. She points to data that shows “what works for weight control is portion control and exercise. It’s not just cutting carbs, it’s portion-controlling everything.”

The important thing to remember is that the best diet plan is the one that works for you, as long as the plan supplies adequate nutrition. What works for some people differs from what works for others. Some people react better to highly structured diets, while others will succeed with a diet that allows certain degrees of flexibility.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research; MSNBC Nutrition Notes; American Dietetic Association; Las Vegas Review-Journal

Low Carbohydrate Diets May Be Hazardous to Those With Kidney Problems
Although popular, low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets are not for everyone. Having an excess amount of protein in the body, particularly from meat and dairy sources, can cause additional harm to the kidneys of people with kidney disease. Harvard researchers have found that the excess protein can deteriorate the kidney function of those with mild, moderate or severe kidney disease or kidney problems. Doctors also warn that high protein diets can cause the body to excrete more calcium through the urine, and may increase the risk of kidney stones. Before starting any low carbohydrate diet, a doctor should evaluate an individual’s kidney function, as well as check their history of kidney stones.

Source: Consumer Reports On Health, July 2004

Spinach and Broccoli Could Delay the Onset of Dementia
New research from Harvard Medical School reveals that middle-aged women who have a healthy amount of spinach and broccoli in their diet may retain more of their cognitive abilities as they enter their 70s. The study is a part of the Nurses Health Study that has been following the diets and health status of 13,000 women since 1972. Researchers state that those women with the highest consumption of spinach and broccoli experienced less cognitive decline than other women. These vegetables are both high in folate and antioxidants such as carotenoids and vitamin C, which researchers think play a role in the delay of the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. An estimated 4.5 million people currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and researchers hope this information will help reduce the incidence of the disease in the future.

Research out of Johns Hopkins University has suggested broccoli can also help prevent cancer by inactivating carcinogenic substances and activating powerful antioxidant responses that protect cells. The researchers discovered that the vegetable also kills H. pylori bacteria, the cause of ulcers.

Source: Food Navigator, July 21, 2004; Consumer Reports on Health, July 2004

Physical Activity on the Job Has Positive Effect on Reducing Deaths From Heart Disease
A study recently conducted at the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki and published in the journal Circulation suggests that physical activity on the job has as positive an effect as leisure-time exercise in reducing deaths from heart disease among patients with Type II diabetes. The study included data from 3,000 patients with Type II diabetes and information such as whether they walked or biked on their way to work or during the workday, and whether their job involved light, moderate or intense activity. Researchers found that participating in moderate to intense activity three or more hours a week reduced the risk of death from heart disease by one-third. Lead researcher, Dr. Gang Hu reported that patients who were active in their commute to work, during the workday or during leisure-time exercise all reduced their risk by similar percentages. Hu recommends exercising during breaks at work, walking more on the job or walking to work if possible.

Source: The New York Times, July 29, 2004; The International Herald Tribune

Obesity Rates Still Troubling
The latest government figures from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) show no signs of decreasing obesity rates among Americans in 2001-2002. The survey is designed to track the rate of obesity in adults and children.

The survey, which was published in the June 2004 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), included 4,390 adults and 4,258 children and contained height and weight measurements from various age groups. According to the 2001-2002 data, approximately 66 percent of adults were overweight and of these about 31 percent were considered obese. Among children ages six to nineteen years old, approximately 32 percent were overweight, of which approximately 17 percent were considered obese.

Although obesity rates have risen since the beginning of the study in 1960, the rates between 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 show no significant change. Obesity can be combated by a lifestyle that includes physical activity and a healthy diet.

Sources: Yahoo and the Journal of the American Medical Association

Growth of More Healthful Menu Options at Fast Food Chains
There’s more evidence that many fast food chains and food companies are making strides to provide consumers with more healthful menu selections. Subway, who has touted the fact that many of their sandwiches are low in fat, will now offer a line of low-carbohydrate wraps. The “Atkins-friendly” wraps are now available nationwide in all Subway chain stores. The reduced-carb wraps will cost 50 cents more and will contain about 12 less grams of carbohydrates than a traditional Subway sub. In April, Subway also plans to add three new Atkins-friendly salad dressings to top their entrée salad. Caribou coffee is introducing a line of reduced calorie and carbohydrate lattes in a line they will call “Skinny ‘Bou.” This will be the first major coffee chain to introduce such a menu selection. And, Tropicana will introduce a new juice called Light -n- Healthy. The juice will have about 70 calories and 14 grams of sugar, which is about a third less than a regular eight ounce glass of Tropicana orange juice. Other fast food chains are making it easier for their customers to make informed nutrition choices. Each of the McDonald’s in New York, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut have unveiled new posters and brochures that explain how to modify their existing menu to be lower in calories, carbohydrates and fat. For instance, if a consumer is watching their calorie and fat intake, they would select a McDonald’s reduced-fat breakfast that contains 8 grams of fat or less which could mean an Egg McMuffin without cheese and butter. Boston Market has also increased the amount of nutritional information it provides the customer by introducing labeled signs that categorize their menu items into the following groups: “low fat” “high protein,” or “vegetarian.”

Source: USA Today.com, December 25, 2003

Your Weight May Affect Your Eyesight
There’s one more reason for overweight people to lose the weight — good eye health. Research from Tufts University suggests that women who are overweight are two and a half times more likely to develop a particularly damaging type of cataract that involves the central field of vision. Waist circumference was also a factor that influenced the development of cataracts. Women with waist circumferences above 35 were two and a half times more likely to develop this type of cataract than women with a waist circumference less than 31.5 inches. The reason for the link remains unclear. However, individuals with diabetes frequently experience cataracts due to an excess of sugar that circulates through the bloodstream, which affects vision. One theory is that overweight people also have slightly elevated sugar levels and that sugar could similarly circulate and deposit in the eye.

Source: Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, January 2004

Fast Food and Weight Gain Among Children
According to a national study that was published in the January 2004 issue of Pediatrics, nearly one-third of kids (aged 4 to 19) in the U.S. eat fast food on a daily basis. According to the authors of the study, that means that these children are eating approximately 130 more calories each day, and gaining 6 pounds more a year. The study found that children from all regions, incomes, and races were regular fast-food eaters, but that boys, older kids, black children, children from higher-income families, and children from the South ate the most fast food.

According to the authors and other scientific research, there is a parallel between the rise in fast food consumption and childhood obesity. In the 1970’s, approximately 2% of the average child’s total calories came from fast food while that figure had shot up to 10% of total calories coming from fast-food sources in the mid-1990’s. Not only do children eat more calories when eating fast food, they also ingest more sugar, saturated fat, and carbohydrates and ingest less fruits and vegetables, milk, and fiber.

Source: Reuters Health, 2004

CaloriesCount.com - Web Site Helps Consumers Lose Weight
Last year, the Calorie Control Council launched "CaloriesCount.com: Healthy Eating and Exercise for Life" to help the many people fighting the battle of the bulge. The website (www.caloriescount.com) is committed to educating and assisting people achieve a healthy weight, primarily through a balanced diet incorporating their favorite foods and appropriate physical activity. CaloriesCount.com is focused on tried and true sensible methods of weight control that help people lose weight and keep it off, helping people learn how to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Dr. John Foreyt, Director of the Nutrition Research Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine, and a scientific advisor for the new site, said, "Research shows that individuals who join online weight management programs are often more successful in losing weight and keeping their weight off." The site contains tools, calculators and information to help consumers obtain a healthy weight and includes features such as:

• Guidance from experienced health professionals including physicians, registered dietitians and fitness experts.
• Meal Plans that are customized and creative, designed to help each member meet their specific weight loss goals healthfully.
• Access to the new comprehensive Calorie Calculator, available online for tracking daily calories in foods you eat.
• Articles, tips and the most current information necessary to make informed weight management choices.
• Live chats with weight loss experts as well as access to a caring online support community sharing your desires, and frustrations.
• Personalized Online Food Diary that has been integrated with the calorie calculator.

The site has come at a time when it is needed most. Obesity in the U.S. is now considered to be at epidemic proportions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC estimates that almost 65 percent of Americans are overweight and 31 percent are clinically obese (which means that an individual's weight is 20% or more above what is considered to be her/his healthy weight). And being overweight can put adults and children at an increased risk of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

For more information about the site, visit: www.caloriescount.com (Calorie Control Council, January 7, 2003)

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Last Updated 11/2006
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