Food & Fitness: Fighting Obesity

(story courtesy of Newstream)

March 2001 (Newstream) -- Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Half of all American adults and nearly five million children are overweight. Millions of Americans are at elevated risk for heart disease and high cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin levels due to their diet.

And yet, says the American Dietetic Association, achieving health and fitness by eating well is possible for everyone -- just follow the ABCs: That's Aim for Fitness, Build a Healthy Base and Choose Sensibly. As ADA officially kicks off National Nutrition Month(R) 2001 in Orlando, Fla., March 1 - 3, the nation's largest association of food and nutrition professionals urges Americans to make food and fitness fun by providing sensible guidelines for a healthy lifestyle.

Leading nutrition scientists and policymakers are meeting at the Disney Institute in Orlando to report the latest science-based nutrition information on topics including:

* monounsaturated fat
* low-fat diets vs. high-unsaturated fat diets
* moderate-fat weight loss diets promoting higher intakes of vegetables and fiber lacking in American's diets
* medical implications of childhood obesity
* how to snack and not gain weight

National Nutrition Month(R) information is available on ADA's Web site at www.eatright.org. Program and scientific sessions are sponsored by The Peanut Institute and The National Peanut Board, www.peanut-institute.org.

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Produced for The American Dietetic Association

CONTACT:
The American Dietetic Association at
800-877-1600, ext. 4894