For Immediate Release

August 30, 2000

Contact:

Keith Keeney
keeneke@assnhq.com
Beth Brown, R.D.
bbrown@assnhq.com
(404) 252-3663

(Atlanta, August 30, 2000) - Armed with the correct information and a clearer understanding about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Americans can take control of what they are consuming and savor every bit of their new knowledge that they can eat their favorite foods without guilt.

For many years, consumers have been riding the "dieting merry-go-round" - losing weight, but gaining it back just as quickly. Promises of "quick fixes" through pills, powders and shakes have actually resulted in frustrating failure. The quick cures and popular diets did not tackle the real problem - consumers were not eating for the right reasons and did not understand that exercise needs to be an active part of that lifestyle. .

In a recent national survey conducted for the Calorie Control Council consumers were asked various questions about their eating and exercise habits, including why they think they cannot control their weight. The Council has tracked dieting trends since 1986.

The survey revealed that many people now realize that "light" (reduced-fat, low-calorie, or sugar-free) foods and beverages can satisfy their desire for enjoying their favorite products without unnecessary calories or fat. The survey found that people are making greater strides in losing weight by using light foods and beverages as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. In general, they also have a better understanding today of what is necessary for healthy weight management:

• Over half of the U.S. adult population (70 percent) report that they are eating a healthier diet today then they were three years ago. In an effort to eat more healthfully, they are checking the nutrition labels on foods and beverages for fat content, calories and sugar content, as well as other ingredients.


• The vast majority of those trying to control their weight are aware of the need to combine sensible eating habits with increased physical activity.
  
  
• Six out of ten people are either currently on diets or are making a serious effort to control their weight. Among those who indicated they need to lose weight, 63 percent recognize they need to lose more than 10 pounds; 37 percent need to lose less than 10 pounds.
  
  
• Among dieters, the majority (81 percent) state they have been "successful" in losing weight on their current diet. The average reported weight loss is 19 pounds. This amount is up significantly from 1996, when the reported weight loss was only 13 pounds. The challenge now, of course, is keeping the weight off.
  
  
• Despite all the hoopla, only six percent of those trying to control their weight are following a restricted weight-loss diet (such as the Atkins Diet, the Zone, Sugar-busters, etc. -- see "Fad Diets" article on page x). (Note: unfortunately, this still adds up to roughly 8 million people.)
  
  
• Almost 9 out of 10 (87 percent) of all adults -- 180 million individuals -- consume either reduced-fat or low-calorie, sugar-free products (i.e., "light" products), primarily to stay in better overall health; three-fourths of light product consumers say they would like to see an even greater variety of products available.
  
  
• Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed are aware that calories and fat are equally important in managing weight. And, the majority (61 percent) indicate they are able to balance their overall caloric intake by using reduced-fat or low-calorie/sugar-free foods and beverages.
  
  
• In terms of daily use, as well as the number of light products consumed on a given day, the frequency of light product usage is positively associated with weight loss.
  
  
• Among consumers of reduced-fat products, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) report that they consume about the same amount or less than the regular variety of the same products. Additionally, the majority of these consumers indicate they do not consume more of traditional "high-fat" foods on the days they eat reduced-fat foods.
  
  

At the same time that people have become more aware of the important elements of a healthy lifestyle, they also have an improved understanding of obstacles to weight loss. Among those trying to control their weight, most say they are not successful because they do not exercise enough. Other major barriers identified by the survey include snacking too much, splurging on favorite foods, and dining out too often where portion control is lacking.

"Our survey reveals that many people have the right attitudes and more are trying to implement the right behaviors necessary for successful long-term weight management," commented Lyn Nabors, executive vice president of the Calorie Control Council. "Now it's a matter of putting those attitudes into action and adhering to healthy habits, especially by increasing physical activity."

So, with a concerted effort -- by health professionals, educators, the government, the media, as well as interested organizations -- to reinforce the positive awareness and behaviors identified by this survey, the future can start to look brighter for turning the tide on America's obesity crisis.

The findings are based on a nationally projectable survey of 1,200 individuals, age 18 and older. The sample reliability is +/- 2.8 percent. Booth Research Services, Inc., completed the survey in July 2000 for the Calorie Control Council. More information is available on the Council's Web site: www.caloriecontrol.org.