ACFN STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO JAMA REPORT ON DIET AND INACTIVITY

Washington, D.C., March 9, 2004 - Today’s announcement by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reinforces the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition’s (ACFN) call for improved health through energy balance.

ACFN concurs with JAMA’s conclusion that "…interventions to…improve diet and increase physical activity must become much higher priorities in the public health and healthcare systems."

" ACFN believes that maintaining a healthy weight and achieving optimal health requires a balance of physical activity and nutrition tailored to meet each individual’s needs, preferences and lifestyle," said ACFN Chair Susan Finn, Ph.D., RD. "Balancing calorie intake and energy output is essential to maintaining a healthy body weight. "

ACFN is a vocal advocate of local, state and national programs that seek to improve nutrition education and encourage increased physical activity, such as:

• The nationwide America On the Move™ program that aims to initiate and maintain measurable behavior changes to foster healthy lifestyles;
  
• The Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) grants distributed by the Department of Education to help schools improve physical education programs; and
  
• "Healthy Horizons," a community-based program in Owensboro, Ky., that engages all residents in an effort to improve health and reduce obesity.

"ACFN supports policies and promotes programs that seek to address the unique needs of American families," Finn continued. "Such initiatives should empower parents to make the best choices for their own personal health and nutrition goals and to help their children learn nutrition and fitness habits that will sustain a lifetime of good health."

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.