AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR FITNESS AND NUTRITION GETS ACTIVE WITH NEW CONGRESSIONAL FITNESS CAUCUS

ACFN Unites with American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance to Back Formation of Congressional Fitness Caucus

Washington, D.C., February 13, 2003 - American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) today joined Reps. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) to launch the Congressional Fitness Caucus. Reps. Wamp and Udall created the bipartisan caucus to boost understanding of physical activity’s benefits for good health and more dynamic and productive lifestyles.

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.

“ACFN and the Congressional Fitness Caucus are a perfect match. We have the same goals increase America’s health and wellness through enjoyable activity, and support nutrition and fitness programs that work,” said ACFN Advisory Board Member Dr. Maureen Storey, acting director and research associate professor at the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Virginia Tech. Dr. Storey spoke on behalf of ACFN at the launch of the caucus.

Saluting the goals of the Fitness Caucus, ACFN and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) distributed pedometers to 435 members of Congress.

“Every step counts when you’re trying to improve your health,” added Dr. Storey. “By using pedometers, members of Congress and the public can easily track their daily activity, and balance it with the right diet to suit their own health and lifestyle goals.”

Also joining at today’s press conference on the steps of the Capitol were athletes from soccer teams Washington Freedom and DC United.

To find out more about the Congressional Fitness Caucus, contact Susan Haigler, press secretary to Congressman Zach Wamp (3^rd District of Tenn.) at 202-225-3271.

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.