Calorie Control Council | What’s Hot and What’s Not When it Comes to Weight Loss in 2007

For Immediate Release: December 15, 2006

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Meagan Stangle
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What’s Hot and What’s Not When it Comes to Weight Loss in 2007

Calorie Control Council Predicts Top 5 Trends in Dieting and Weight Loss in 2007

ATLANTA (December 15, 2006) – For many people, losing weight will become a high priority come January 1. According to a recent Calorie Control Council survey, 33 percent of Americans or 71 million people are currently on a diet – the highest number of dieters in the past 15 years. (The Council is a non-profit association that has tracked dieting and weight loss trends for the past 20 years).

With hundreds of quick-fix diets on the market, it is often hard to know what works and what does not. Most health professionals agree that when it comes to weight loss, it is calories that count.

“Consumers must be aware of the calories they are consuming and the calories they are expending,” says Robin Steagall, R.D., Nutrition Communications Manager of the Council. “By choosing lower-calorie foods and beverages and incorporating exercise into the daily lifestyle, weight loss and improved health can be maintained for life.”
What trends will dieters and weight controllers face in 2007? The Council is predicting the following top five dieting trends for the coming year:

Restaurants will serve more low-calorie and reduced-fat foods. A recent report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encouraged restaurants to market lower-calorie foods and increase awareness about the calories in foods at restaurants. In 2007, the restaurants industry will heed the advice of the FDA and begin to serve lower-calorie and reduced-fat options for those trying to manage their weight. New York City is leading the way and recently passed legislation that requires restaurants with standardized menus to clearly label the calorie content of each item.

Consumers will create personalized eating plans. Americans are beginning to realize it is not practical to cut out an entire food group or survive on a liquid diet for a long period of time. Instead, people will begin to ignore the fad diets and focus on sensible nutrition and controlling calories. To create low-calorie, customized meal plans, people will seek assistance through online dieting Web sites where they can choose from a variety of meal plans and find the one that best suits their needs. These sites, such as the Council’s www.CaloriesCount.com, have become very popular.

Exercise will become part of the “everyday.” As Americans get busier everyday, fitting exercise into a demanding schedule can be difficult. However, many people will begin to make small changes to incorporate fitness into the daily lifestyle. For example, taking the stairs instead of the elevator and parking far away in the parking lot are simple ways to burn calories throughout the day. These small changes will make a big difference in the activity levels of busy Americans. This trend began with the success of “America on the Move,” a national campaign encouraging people to walk 10,000 steps a day.

Functional light foods will gain popularity. In order to get “more bang for the buck,” many people will begin to consume functional light foods. These low-calorie options also provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. For example, foods and beverages containing polyols allow consumers to enjoy sweet treats with fewer calories while eliciting a low glycemic response beneficial to everyone, including people with diabetes.

Healthy living will become a family matter. In 2007, major steps will be taken to diminish the growing rate of childhood obesity. Many families will choose to make proper nutrition and exercise a priority for the entire family. Thanks to government education efforts, more and more parents will teach children about the importance of eating right and exercising while acting as positive role models for their children.

Overall, according to the Council, 2007 will be a year of positive change when it comes to weight loss and weight maintenance. “By focusing on calories in and calories out and not being misled by the latest weight loss fad and instead adopting healthy long-term habits, the New Year can be happy and healthy,” says Steagall.

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The Calorie Control Council is an international non-profit association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry.

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