JUST 100 CALORIES A DAY CAN KEEP THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC AT BAY
Authors of Science Magazine Study Offer Evidence That 100 Fewer Calories Per Day Can Keep America From Gaining More WeightWashington, D.C., February 7, 2003 - Research published today in Science Magazine, showing that eliminating just 100 calories per day can help prevent weight gain for Americans, is welcome science for everyone looking for simple but effective steps for achieving a healthier lifestyle.
“Burn 100 calories through easy activity or eliminate 100 calories from your diet. That’s the news Americans need to hear and that’s a sound solution that can keep us motivated,” said Alison Kretser, spokesperson for the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition.
Dr. James O. Hill and colleagues studied data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (NHANES) and the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. According to the research team, America’s obesity rate which could increase to 39 percent by 2008 is likely rooted in an “energy gap” between the increased number of calories consumed and the fewer calories burned through physical activity. Hill’s research indicates that burning just 100 calories more per day or consume only 100 calories fewer could prevent they typical weight gain of two pounds per year. To meet this easily achievable goal, Americans can start incorporating a few effortless steps into our lives.
“Simple lifestyle changes can have a major impact on quality of life. Energy balance is within almost everyone's reach by increasing easy, enjoyable daily activity, and consuming slightly less at meals. Many people can do this without altering their typical life patterns,” noted Dr. Hill, Director, Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and a member of the American Council for Fitness & Nutrition’s Advisory Board.
In the article, “Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?” (Science, February 7, 2003), the authors offer simple behavioral solutions for combating the obesity epidemic and losing 100 calories from total intake.
- Eat about 15 percent less of your meal equal to three bites of a restaurant hamburger.
- Take a 15 to 20 minute walk, which equals approximately one mile. The walk can be done at once or divided up during the day.
- Add 2,000 2,500 steps to your day via lifestyle activities such as taking the stairs, parking a little farther from your destination, or conducting a meeting with your colleagues during a walk.
The American Council for Fitness & Nutrition, a non-profit organization formed by the food and beverage industry, supports lasting solutions for improving health and fitness, such as those recommended by Dr. Hill and his colleagues.
ACFN also offers suggestions for Americans to balance daily calories, such as:
1. Balance your diet with lower-fat versions of your favorite foods, such as leaner cuts of meat, reduced-fat dairy products, or baked snack foods
2. When picking condiments, try one teaspoon of mustard rather than one tablespoon of mayonnaise.
3. Remember that household chores, such as gardening, vacuuming, washing windows, or shoveling snow, burn calories.
CONTACT
Laura Sheehan
202.715.1526
laura@acfn.org
Christine Tucci
202.715.1517
christine@acfn.org
ABOUT THE AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR FITNESS AND NUTRITION: The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) is a non-profit organization that brings together food and beverage companies, associations, and health and nutrition advocates to work toward viable long-term solutions to the nation's obesity epidemic. ACFN represents a diverse group of organizations and is guided by an advisory board of experts in the fields of nutrition, physical activity and behavior change. ACFN works with partners to raise awareness of programs and policies that seek to improve health and wellness in America. For more information, please visit www.acfn.org. |