ACFN/Blue Cross Blue Shield Shake Up the Hill
The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) joined forces with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) on Capitol Hill May 17, 18 and 19 to encourage Members of Congress and their staffs to walk more, eat more nutritious foods and be more mindful of the important role portion size plays. ACFN Advisory Board member, Lisa Katic, R.D., participated in the event and led lawmakers, including Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), through portion size demonstrations at the ACFN booth.

Sen. Tom Harkin participates in portion size demonstrations at the ACFN booth.

ACFN developed the content for a new brochure entitled, Charting a Healthy Course, A Consumer’s Guide to Good Nutrition. The guide was distributed to attendees at events on Capitol Hill and will serve as a resource for all BCBSA WalkingWorks participants as well as others interested in how to easily practice daily good nutrition habits.

National Employee Health and Fitness Week
Two-thirds of all Americans are overweight and less than one-third of Americans engage in regular physical activity. While the newest version of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Dietary Guidelines recommends that people engage in at least 30 (and up to 90) minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, achieving this objective calls for a commitment from America’s employers. To drive home this point, Phil Haberstro, executive director of the National Association for Health and Fitness (NAHF) and Susan Finn, chair of ACFN, kicked-off National Employee Health and Fitness Week, May 16-20, by talking with reporters around the country about how employers can help workers adopt healthier habits.

Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA) gets familiar with a pedometer.

Haberstro said, “Creating a work environment that helps employees stay healthy should be a strategic imperative for employers. The healthier the employee, the healthier the company.” Finn added that physical activity and healthy eating habits go hand-in-hand. “It is critical that people not only understand the benefits of physical activity, but also the importance of good nutrition both at home and in the workplace,” said Finn. “That is why I always encourage employees to keep snacks like packaged oatmeal, soup or nuts in their office drawer. With all the healthy products on the market today, there is no reason to skip breakfast or lunch and risk binge eating later in the day.”

TRIUMPH in Austin, Tex.
On May 4, 2005, ACFN held the second in a series of panel discussions called TRIUMPH – Trends, Resources and Inspiration for Understanding and Maintaining Physical Health. The event drew more than 160 professionals from area nutrition, fitness, health and wellness organizations and businesses.

Austin Mayor Will Wynn welcomed the gathering declaring, “I am committed to Austin becoming the fittest city in the United States. I look forward to continuing to work on this issue and I know that our community will greatly benefit from embracing the healthy living these initiatives promote.”

Kate Coler, deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, USDA, served as the keynote speaker and offered valuable guidance about the new food guidance system MyPyramid. Coler noted the need for collaboration to combat obesity, saying, “It really is going to take leadership from a variety of sectors to come up with solutions, and the work of people in the medical community, education community, nutrition educators, all of us really need to work together to collaborate our efforts to find a solution. And the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition is a great example of how we can work together to do this.”

Paul Carrozza, Molly Gee and R. Sue Day.

Dishing up portion sizes at the ACFN booth.

Healthier US Fitness Festival, Washington, D.C.
On May 2, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports hosted the Healthier US Fitness Festival. The festival, held on the National Mall, drew a wide audience, particularly government employees who wanted to learn more about how they can lead healthier lifestyles and fit in more physical activity. ACFN Advisory Board member Dr. Jim Hill, author of The Step Diet and founder of America on the Move, told festival participants “You don’t have to exercise for 30 to 60 consecutive minutes. Try splitting up your physical activity in 10-minute intervals throughout the day. Take a break from your computer and walk around the block, add a 10-minute walk to your lunch break or go for a longer walk after dinner — this is a great way to burn calories and unwind after a day at work.” As festival-goers clipped on their pedometers, it was evident Dr. Hill’s advice was already making an impact.