Transcript Obesity Research, 2002

Grains of Truth
About Fad Diets & Obesity
Americans Realize Road to
Good Health and Weight Loss a Long One
Grains of Truth
About Fad Diets & Obesity
 The consumer’s-eye view of …
 Dieting
 Obesity
 Grains
 Grains of truth about dieting, obesity,
and grains
 Communicating nutrition truths
The Gallup Survey
 What – Gallup survey of 1,000 primary
grocery shoppers
 Where – Survey was conducted throughout
the United States
 When – Participants were questioned fall 2002
 How – Phone interviews of randomly selected
households were conducted
 Why – To gauge consumer attitudes
toward nutrition
Don’t Believe the Fad Diet Hype
 75% of shoppers believe high-protein,
low-carb diets can be difficult to maintain
 70% agree their bodies need carbs for
energy and eliminating carbs is not healthy
Don’t Believe the Fad Diet Hype
 56% think high-protein, low-carb diets help
you lose weight
 61% think following a high-protein,
low-carb diet is a safe way to lose weight
 58% think carbs must be eliminated from
the body to lose weight
Don’t Believe the Fad Diet Hype
Percentage of dieters who have tried a:
Low-fat diet
60%
Food Guide Pyramid diet
45%
Doctor-recommended diet
35%
High-protein, low-carb diet
35%
Weight-loss organization diet
Liquid diet/diet pills
27%
23%
The Obesity Epidemic
 Percentage of Americans that are
overweight or obese: 64%
 Percentage of Americans that correctly
agree grain foods are not a cause of
obesity: 69%
The Obesity Epidemic
According to parents of elementary/middle-school children,
who is responsible for teaching children about nutrition?
Schools
11%
Media/community organizations
2%
Parents
87%
The Obesity Epidemic
How often do parents talk to their kids about maintaining
a healthful weight?
Never
12%
Don’t know
2%
Rarely
14%
Often
52%
Sometimes
20%
Feeling Good About Grains
Consumers correctly agree grain foods can assist with
health-related problems:
Agree grain foods may help
prevent heart disease
Agree grain foods may help
prevent cancer
76%
68%
Agree grain foods help
increase energy
Agree grain foods help
with weight control
81%
63%
Feeling Good About Grains
Percentage of consumers who consider the following
foods healthful:
Chicken noodle soup
83%
Breakfast cereals
83%
Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches
75%
Freshly baked bread
Crackers
Cereal snack bars
Muffins
63%
60%
57%
53%
Feeling Good About Grains
Agree enriched grain foods
are a good source of folic acid
Agree folic acid is helpful in
reducing the risk of heart disease
Agree folic acid is helpful
in preventing birth defects
54%
68%
64%
Feeling Good About Grains
Percentage who agree that:
63%
Complex carbohydrates
are good for you
73%
71%
72%
Bread is fattening
56%
52%
45%
38%
Pasta is fattening
54%
48%
40%
29%
Starches should be avoided
48%
44%
45%
36%
2002
2000
1998
1996
Grains of Truth About Dieting
 High-protein, low-carb diets
 American Heart Association issued advisory
warning of potential increased risk of
cardiovascular disease
 University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center study showed increased risk for kidney
stones, bone loss
 Tufts University recently questioned validity
of research supporting Atkins diet’s
weight-loss claims
Sources: American Heart Association, October 2001; American Journal of Kidney Disease
(40, 2:265-74, 2002); Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, January 2003
Grains of Truth About Dieting
 Diets that eliminate enriched grains have
dire consequences
 A study published in the Journal of the
American Medical Society found grain
fortification with folic acid could decrease
coronary heart disease
 Neural tube birth defects decreased 23%
following folic acid fortification of enriched
grains, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
Sources: Journal of the American Medical Society, Aug. 22, 2001;
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2002
Grains of Truth About Dieting
 Glycemic index as a diet method
 American Diabetes Association says glycemic
index (GI) has limited value in diabetes
prevention or in food selection
 American Dietetic Association notes a healthful
diet should include a variety of foods, including
grains, and not be based on a single marker
Grains of Truth About Dieting
 Healthy, long-term weight loss
 Factors for successful weight loss reported to
the National Weight Control Registry include
eating a low-fat, high-carb diet
 USDA study found high-carb dieters ate
300 fewer calories a day than low-carb dieters
and were more likely to be in the normal
weight range
Sources: Obesity Research, 2002 (10:78-82); USDA Agricultural Research Service;
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, June 2002
Grains of Truth About Obesity
 Americans (eating larger portions and exercising
less) are now 64% overweight/obese
 One in six American kids are overweight or obese
 Italy, France (where consumers eat more bread
and pasta than Americans) boast lower
obesity rates
 Asian diet (high in vegetables and grains)
linked to lower rates of obesity heart disease,
diabetes, and certain cancers
Grains of Truth About Grains
Grains of Truth About Grains
 Fiber
 Adds bulk to digestion; assists with appetite control
 Soluble fiber can help lower blood cholesterol
 Insoluble fiber can help reduce risk of certain cancers
 Fiber in grain foods, especially insoluble fiber, may
protect against diverticular disease
 Folic acid
 Helps prevent neural tube birth defects when
400 micrograms (mcg) are consumed daily
before pregnancy
 May help reduce risk of heart disease, some cancers,
childhood leukemia, and Alzheimer’s
Grains of Truth About Grains
 Carbohydrates
 Provide energy for working muscles and the brain
 May have a positive effect on weight regulation
 Are protein-sparing and the most efficient source
of energy
 Antioxidants/phytoestrogens
 May help reduce risks of some forms of cancer
 May help fight menopausal symptoms
Grains of Truth About Grains
 White bread
 Enriched flour
 Good source of iron, B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin,
and folic acid), and nearly 1 gram of fiber
 Contains as many antioxidants as many fruits & vegetables
 Wheat bread
 Enriched and whole-wheat flour
 Contains various amounts of fiber and phytonutrients
 Whole-wheat bread
 Whole-wheat flour
 Provides 2 to 3 grams of fiber per slice
 Contains numerous phytonutrients
Communicating Nutrition Truths
 Link nutrition education to health concerns
 Relate the nutrition message to something they





already know
Encourage adults to assess their own dietary practices
Use active participation and learning, providing
opportunities for social interaction/support
Include food demonstrations, recipes, and practical tips
Honor cultural backgrounds, local customs, and
personal preferences
Provide take-home materials, posters, and tip sheets
on healthy eating
Source: Contento, et al., (1995); Journal of Nutrition Education
Communicating Nutrition Truths
 Divide responsibilities
 Parents should take responsibility for what, when, and
where children are offered food
 Children should take responsibility for how much or
whether they eat
 Focus mealtime energies on providing healthy
foods and creating happy, positive, familyoriented eating experiences
Source: USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine,
Consumer News — Nutrition & Your Child, Volume 3, 2002
Communicating Nutrition Truths
 Make snack time a healthy choice — stock the
kitchen with positive options and a variety of
healthful foods
 Strike a balance — at fast-food restaurants, allow
children to pick a favorite food, but balance it with
a healthy food like low-fat milk or a salad
 Lead by example — studies show children’s
eating habits tend to mirror those of their parents
Source: USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine,
Consumer News — Nutrition & Your Child, Volume 3, 2002
Need More Nutrition Resources?
 www.wheatfoods.org
 www.usda.gov/cnpp