An Open Letter to Health Organizations Funded by Coca-Cola — The Death of the Sugar Industry — Medium
Thank you for taking the time to view.
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
Have we been milked by the dairy industry?
Have we been milked by the dairy industry?
Is it time to promote transparancy ? Why is Canada hooked on physical activity with regard to obesity?
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/context/index-eng.php
Is it time to promote transparancy ? Why is Canada hooked on physical activity with regard to obesity?
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/context/index-eng.php
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
One can of fizzy drink daily 'can increase heart attack risk by a third' - Telegraph
One can of fizzy drink daily 'can increase heart attack risk by a third' - Telegraph
Together, we can continue to share and spread the conversation about health and health equity. Paul
Together, we can continue to share and spread the conversation about health and health equity. Paul
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
Thursday, 17 September 2015
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Tuesday, 15 September 2015
Growing portion sizes a major factor in rising UK obesity, study finds | Society | The Guardian
Growing portion sizes a major factor in rising UK obesity, study finds | Society | The Guardian
"Dr Alison Tedstone, the chief nutritionist at Public Health
England, said: “This study clearly demonstrates that reducing portion
sizes is a successful way to cut calories. Given that almost two-thirds
of adults are overweight or obese, it’s important to keep an eye on
portion sizes when cooking, shopping and eating out to avoid overeating
and help maintain a healthy weight.”
"Dr Alison Tedstone, the chief nutritionist at Public Health
England, said: “This study clearly demonstrates that reducing portion
sizes is a successful way to cut calories. Given that almost two-thirds
of adults are overweight or obese, it’s important to keep an eye on
portion sizes when cooking, shopping and eating out to avoid overeating
and help maintain a healthy weight.”
Don’t let lobbyists decide what your children eat at school - The Washington Post
Don’t let lobbyists decide what your children eat at school - The Washington Post
Who are the drivers for the Inactivity Obesity Work Plan?
Who are the drivers for the Inactivity Obesity Work Plan?
Too fat to fly? Air India grounds 130 flight attendants for being overweight
Too fat to fly? Air India grounds 130 flight attendants for being overweight
"
For
years, airlines have penalized luggage for weighing too much. Now at
least one carrier is applying that same logic to its flight attendants.
Air
India is grounding about 130 of its flight attendants — mostly women —
because they are overweight, the company announced late last week.
The
state-owned airline said the decision was based on safety concerns and
recent government regulations, but critics said it was “ridiculous” and
“shockingly sexist.”
The mass grounding is just the latest in a
ten-year-long tug-of-war between the airline and its larger flight
attendants. Weight limits for Indian flight attendants date back to the
1980s, when Air India began circulating height and weight charts,
according to a 2014 opinion by Delhi High Court judge Rajiv Shakdher.
In 2006, Air India grounded nine female flight attendants deemed “exceptionally overweight,” the BBC reported.
“Being grossly overweight does have a bearing on reflexes and can
impair agility required to perform the emergency functions,” the airline
claimed. The hostesses sued, but a Delhi court backed up the carrier in
2008. The women appealed, only for the airline to fire them in 2009 as
the country’s Supreme Court was still considering the case.
“All efforts to get them to reduce weight had failed,” Air India spokesman Jitendra Bhargava told the BBC at the time.
“It
is incredibly upsetting that working women are being targeted,” Sheila
Joshi, a 51-year-old flight attendant with 27 years of experience, told the Times of London after
the Supreme Court denied her demand to ban the weight limits. “This is
not a modelling job; we are not working a catwalk.”
“Now, if you
are just ten grams over, it’s goodbye,” said Joshi, who managed to keep
her job after slimming down to less than the 140-pound maximum allowed
for her five-foot-three-inch height. “It’s ridiculous: weight is not an
infectious disease.”
Despite a series of lawsuits from other
attendants, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCO) issued
guidelines in 2013 requiring flight attendants to undergo routine
medical checkups, including an evaluation of their body mass index, or
BMI.
Air India followed suit but met resistance. Flight attendants
refused to take the test, demanding the airline first pay for gym
memberships and arguing that Air India had agreed to ban BMI back in the
90s, according to the Times of India.
In 2014, after
justice Shakdher ordered Indian Airlines (part of Air India) to
reinstate three hostesses fired for gaining weight, the government
updated its guidelines once again. Under the current guidelines, “unfit”
crew members with high BMIs are given six months to slim down or face
grounding.
Air India tested 3,500 employees and determined that
600 were overweight or obese. They were put on a regimen of diet and
exercise before being reassessed.
“About 130 of them failed the
reassessment,” an Air India official told the Telegraph. “We are now
declaring them permanently unfit for their job as flight attendants.”
“People
who are fitter can respond quicker and more efficiently in case of any
untoward situation,” another airline official said.
But Air India’s new policy has plenty of critics.
‘The guidelines are arbitrary and discriminatory,” an official from the All India Cabin Crew Association told the Daily Mail. “They just can’t wake up one fine morning and make some crazy rules citing flimsy reasons.”
Flight
attendants and aviation experts have called the policy “shallow” and an
underhanded way to screen out talented but less attractive employees,
according to the Telegraph.
“This move to impose a certain BMI,
ignoring experience and other performance parameters, is immature,
misogynistic and shockingly sexist,” aviation industry consultant Mark
Martin told the newspaper. “We seem to have lost the plot on what is
needed from flight attendants.”
Weight was once a consideration
for American airlines, as well, but then a series of
weight-discrimination lawsuits forced carriers to scrap their
guidelines, according to CNN.
Part
of the problem seems to be that the state-owned airline is in a race to
compete with newer private companies whose employees are often younger
and thinner.
Air India has made a number of moves in recent years to catch up to its competitors, including scrapping its sari-only dress policy
earlier this year. More controversially, however, the airline
has openly admitted that it is trying to up its aesthetic standards.
“Looks matter in this line of work,” personnel manager Meenakshi Dua told the BBC in 2004, “and therefore we are giving it a lot of importance.”
“When
we review a candidate, we look at the skin, teeth and height,” she
said. “There should be no scars, acne, or any major marks on the face.
“The
candidate should have a pleasing personality, should be able to carry
him or herself with confidence and be ready to serve others. After all,
that is the job of an air hostess and a male steward.”
The company has also been sued in the past for allegedly barring women from supervisory positions.
When
it comes to weight limits, at least, Air India isn’t alone. Sometimes,
sexism can cut the other way. In 2013, rival Indian airline GoAir said
it was hiring mostly women because they weighed less than men, according to CNN.
Thai Airways has also imposed weight limits on its flight attendants,
grounding several dozen — most of them men — for their bulging
waistlines back in 2011, also according to CNN.
More
recently, Chinese company Qingdao Airlines was accused of grounding or
firing employees due to their weight. A Qingdao spokesperson told the South China Morning Post that the airline did, indeed, have stringent weight requirements, but denied any employees had been grounded or sacked.
Back in 2009, however, an Indian judge had another idea for improving airline performance.
“You
should focus on how they serve passengers, their good conduct instead
of their weight,” Supreme Court justice Tarun Chatterjee told Air India’s lawyers. “Weight is no criteria to determine competence.”
“You tell me the mantra on how to lose weight,” Chatterjee added. “I haven’t been able to lose weight.”
"
For
years, airlines have penalized luggage for weighing too much. Now at
least one carrier is applying that same logic to its flight attendants.
Air
India is grounding about 130 of its flight attendants — mostly women —
because they are overweight, the company announced late last week.
The
state-owned airline said the decision was based on safety concerns and
recent government regulations, but critics said it was “ridiculous” and
“shockingly sexist.”
The mass grounding is just the latest in a
ten-year-long tug-of-war between the airline and its larger flight
attendants. Weight limits for Indian flight attendants date back to the
1980s, when Air India began circulating height and weight charts,
according to a 2014 opinion by Delhi High Court judge Rajiv Shakdher.
In 2006, Air India grounded nine female flight attendants deemed “exceptionally overweight,” the BBC reported.
“Being grossly overweight does have a bearing on reflexes and can
impair agility required to perform the emergency functions,” the airline
claimed. The hostesses sued, but a Delhi court backed up the carrier in
2008. The women appealed, only for the airline to fire them in 2009 as
the country’s Supreme Court was still considering the case.
“All efforts to get them to reduce weight had failed,” Air India spokesman Jitendra Bhargava told the BBC at the time.
“It
is incredibly upsetting that working women are being targeted,” Sheila
Joshi, a 51-year-old flight attendant with 27 years of experience, told the Times of London after
the Supreme Court denied her demand to ban the weight limits. “This is
not a modelling job; we are not working a catwalk.”
“Now, if you
are just ten grams over, it’s goodbye,” said Joshi, who managed to keep
her job after slimming down to less than the 140-pound maximum allowed
for her five-foot-three-inch height. “It’s ridiculous: weight is not an
infectious disease.”
Despite a series of lawsuits from other
attendants, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCO) issued
guidelines in 2013 requiring flight attendants to undergo routine
medical checkups, including an evaluation of their body mass index, or
BMI.
Air India followed suit but met resistance. Flight attendants
refused to take the test, demanding the airline first pay for gym
memberships and arguing that Air India had agreed to ban BMI back in the
90s, according to the Times of India.
In 2014, after
justice Shakdher ordered Indian Airlines (part of Air India) to
reinstate three hostesses fired for gaining weight, the government
updated its guidelines once again. Under the current guidelines, “unfit”
crew members with high BMIs are given six months to slim down or face
grounding.
Air India tested 3,500 employees and determined that
600 were overweight or obese. They were put on a regimen of diet and
exercise before being reassessed.
“About 130 of them failed the
reassessment,” an Air India official told the Telegraph. “We are now
declaring them permanently unfit for their job as flight attendants.”
“People
who are fitter can respond quicker and more efficiently in case of any
untoward situation,” another airline official said.
But Air India’s new policy has plenty of critics.
‘The guidelines are arbitrary and discriminatory,” an official from the All India Cabin Crew Association told the Daily Mail. “They just can’t wake up one fine morning and make some crazy rules citing flimsy reasons.”
Flight
attendants and aviation experts have called the policy “shallow” and an
underhanded way to screen out talented but less attractive employees,
according to the Telegraph.
“This move to impose a certain BMI,
ignoring experience and other performance parameters, is immature,
misogynistic and shockingly sexist,” aviation industry consultant Mark
Martin told the newspaper. “We seem to have lost the plot on what is
needed from flight attendants.”
Weight was once a consideration
for American airlines, as well, but then a series of
weight-discrimination lawsuits forced carriers to scrap their
guidelines, according to CNN.
Part
of the problem seems to be that the state-owned airline is in a race to
compete with newer private companies whose employees are often younger
and thinner.
Air India has made a number of moves in recent years to catch up to its competitors, including scrapping its sari-only dress policy
earlier this year. More controversially, however, the airline
has openly admitted that it is trying to up its aesthetic standards.
“Looks matter in this line of work,” personnel manager Meenakshi Dua told the BBC in 2004, “and therefore we are giving it a lot of importance.”
“When
we review a candidate, we look at the skin, teeth and height,” she
said. “There should be no scars, acne, or any major marks on the face.
“The
candidate should have a pleasing personality, should be able to carry
him or herself with confidence and be ready to serve others. After all,
that is the job of an air hostess and a male steward.”
The company has also been sued in the past for allegedly barring women from supervisory positions.
When
it comes to weight limits, at least, Air India isn’t alone. Sometimes,
sexism can cut the other way. In 2013, rival Indian airline GoAir said
it was hiring mostly women because they weighed less than men, according to CNN.
Thai Airways has also imposed weight limits on its flight attendants,
grounding several dozen — most of them men — for their bulging
waistlines back in 2011, also according to CNN.
More
recently, Chinese company Qingdao Airlines was accused of grounding or
firing employees due to their weight. A Qingdao spokesperson told the South China Morning Post that the airline did, indeed, have stringent weight requirements, but denied any employees had been grounded or sacked.
Back in 2009, however, an Indian judge had another idea for improving airline performance.
“You
should focus on how they serve passengers, their good conduct instead
of their weight,” Supreme Court justice Tarun Chatterjee told Air India’s lawyers. “Weight is no criteria to determine competence.”
“You tell me the mantra on how to lose weight,” Chatterjee added. “I haven’t been able to lose weight.”
Saturday, 12 September 2015
Empty Promises: Kids’ Exposure to TV Ads for Candy | UConn Today
Empty Promises: Kids’ Exposure to TV Ads for Candy | UConn Today
" Despite voluntary pledges from candy makers not to advertise to children
11 and under, four years after the promises went into effect children
were viewing substantially more TV ads for candy, according to a new
study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University
of Connecticut."
" Despite voluntary pledges from candy makers not to advertise to children
11 and under, four years after the promises went into effect children
were viewing substantially more TV ads for candy, according to a new
study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University
of Connecticut."
Thursday, 10 September 2015
Wednesday, 9 September 2015
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
Saturday, 5 September 2015
Thursday, 3 September 2015
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Life is Why Family Health Challenge: Color Your Plate (60s) - YouTube
Life is Why Family Health Challenge: Color Your Plate (60s) - YouTube
"As Sept. is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, take a look
at this kickoff video from the National Heart Association's Life is Why
Family Health Challenge - to find out how to jumpstart better health by
adding more fruit and vegetables to daily eating. Each week we'll
highlight a different goal with fun and affordable family activities."
"As Sept. is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, take a look
at this kickoff video from the National Heart Association's Life is Why
Family Health Challenge - to find out how to jumpstart better health by
adding more fruit and vegetables to daily eating. Each week we'll
highlight a different goal with fun and affordable family activities."
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Imagine Our World if We Taught It How to Eat
Imagine Our World if We Taught It How to Eat
Imagine Our World if We Taught It How to Eat
Melissa Walton-Shirley
|
In
my office, I have a copy of the Mediterranean diet pyramid at checkout
for every new patient. Many established patients who suffer from
metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, or obesity receive a second
or even a third copy. I spend hours teaching the simple mechanics of
nutrition. I stress that it's more impactful on longevity than any metal
scaffold electively deployed into a coronary artery. I found a kindred
spirit in Dr Simon Poole. His salient points came rapid fire, finding
their mark and leaving quite an impression.
"If patients with
coronary artery disease came out of the office of a practicing physician
or cardiologist not on a statin, you could argue that's a negligent
practice, but I'd argue that most have no advice on diet. I lay down the
gauntlet. We as physicians need to emphasize diet," he began. He then
lauded Dr Stender by saying, "Steen has done remarkably well with his
government. Our secretary of state wanted to make an impact. We were
shuffled into a room to discuss how to decrease mortality in 2.5 years.
We emphasized "brave legislation" (hinting at labeling, reduction in
trans-fat content, and education). The reply was a terse, "Well, we
don't do social engineering." Someone in the group argued, "If you look
at eye-level in a market at the packaging of chocolates for children . .
. if that isn't social engineering, I don't know what is."
He
made the salient points that simple things like irrigation of olives
decreases the antioxidant content of olive oil, which can ruin even good
foods. When UV light replaces natural sunlight, it can be impactful.
Furthermore, he consumes up to 50 cc of olive oil per day and recommends
frying fish in it and pouring it on pasta. He doesn't count calories.
I
quickly asked the expert if anything about my usual dietary
recommendations could be improved. I told him that I advocate for
cutting in half the consumption of bread, sweets, potatoes, pasta, and
rice and to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. I
recommend a maximum of four eggs per week and no more than one serving
of red meat per month.
Dr Poole
replied, "I don't discourage consuming pasta if they drizzle olive oil
on it because it lowers the glycemic load. I'd die without having red
meat once per week but the portion is very, very small," he said,
pointing to a small portion of the palm of his hand. "It's always grass
fed," he added and quipped, "I always know what my food ate." Further
critiquing my recommendations, he added, "I would go for more than five
portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Butternut squash, for
instance, and cucumbers are fruits of sorts. As for eggs, they are back
on the menu."
His friend Dr Aseem Malhotra (Frimley Health NHS
Foundation Trust, Camberley, UK), who was standing nearby, added,
"Following an MI, for mortality lowering, a high-fat Mediterranean diet
is more effective than aspirin, statins, and coronary stents." It was a
statement thrown like a fastball toward home plate, its implication
staggering and dead on target.
Dr Poole concluded his presentation
today by stating, "We need broader professional leadership and access
to resources. Education is key. We need to take responsibility."
I hope someday you'll join us
Dr
Neil Thomas emphasized the importance of respecting the many randomized
controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of the Mediterranean and
DASH diets to reduce all cause mortality. The impact of uneven
recommendations and the impact of the media's influence cannot be
underestimated. He cautions against supplements, stating that, "The
media regularly reports on omega-3 fatty acids for prevention and
treatment of CV disease, but there are no interventional studies that
demonstrate a reduction in mortality. The US Preventive Services Task
Force found no evidence of a positive effect of any nutritional
supplement. Although there was a 7% reduction in all-cause mortality in
one study that included vitamin D, those studies included simultaneous
calcium supplementation. Those with vitamin D alone are all negative,"
he said, then added, "There are two larger trials upcoming that will be
definitive regarding whether it's beneficial." He concluded by saying,
"With regard to beta carotene, as soon as you start giving it in
interventional trials it actually increased the risk of death."
Dr
Thomas Larsen is studying multiple dietary combinations like high- or
low-glycemic-index diets combined with higher or lower fatty- and
protein-content diets. According to the DIOGENES
trial, he noted, patients who followed a low-protein and high-glycemic
index diet were more likely to gain weight. He then added, "High-protein
diets, not low-glycemic-index diets, are the most promising
for regulation of fat mass and abdominal height." He concluded that
based on the Diogenes diet and
others, "a high-protein, low-glycemic-index diet may have additive
effects to improve body-weight regulation, is more successfully
maintained, and may be more likely to lower CVD risk factors if followed
long term."
And the world will be as one
I
challenge you take this information into your exam rooms tomorrow. Bring
along a copy of the Mediterranean diet pyramid. Talk to patients about
how adding extra virgin olive oil blunts the glycemic index of
whole-wheat pasta. Advocate against unfounded claims for dietary
supplements. Strike up a conversation with your local congressional
representatives. Imagine how we as clinicians and practitioners can
change the world one conversation at a time, one politician at a time,
and one act of legislation at a time. If you can see the future, you can
make it happen. Imagine how the world would eat and live if we all did
that tomorrow. Just imagine.
|
Related Drugs & Diseases
I attended a session yesterday at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2015 Congress
entitled, "What should you eat to live a heart-healthy life?" By all
accounts, accolades, and high-fives following the presentation, it was
life-changing. Dr Neil Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK), Dr Steen
Stender (University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark), Dr Simon Poole
(Cambridge, UK), and Prof T Meinert Larsen (University of Copenhagen,
Frederiksberg, Denmark)—all nutrition gurus and scientists—spent 67
minutes teaching us how to save the world. It was probably the most
important series of the entire ESC 2015 meeting because they advocated
for nutrients whose side effects are nil (for most) and are readily
available for mass consumption (in most places). They demonstrated how a
population of unsuspecting individuals could be sickened when a
government allows a food supply to become tainted by commerce and
ignored by politicians. They proselytized with proof and enthusiasm that
we need to educate and legislate on the topic of nutrition to save
millions upon millions of lives and dollars.
You may say I'm a dreamer
Dr
Steen Stender dreams of a world without trans fat. He knows why it has
been favored by the food industry: it's cheap, can hold its shape as a
semisolid at room temp, has an ultralong shelf life, and stands up to
repeated heating. Dr Stender also understands why the 2006 Nurses'
Health Study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
demonstrated a 33% increase in the incidence of coronary heart disease
when 5 g or more of trans fat per day is consumed. Its ability to
increase LDL and decrease HDL levels is a negative double-whammy in the
lipid arena.
Because Dr Stender stood up to big commerce, he is
now a superhero in the world of trans-fat legislation. As chair of the
Danish Nutrition Council's subgroup dealing with trans fats and health,
he convinced the country of Denmark to approve a ban there effective
January 1, 2004. It is now illegal for any food to contain more than 2%
trans fats, and offenders face hefty fines and even incarceration. Proof
of the downside of taking a hard stand on trans fat is the fact that he
was sued after he outed the content of a favorite snack wafer. He
likened the public's risk of consuming it to that of smoking 10
cigarettes per day. Sales plummeted, and the company sued him for $1
million. Then, in a stunning turnaround, in 3 months, it dropped the
suit and removed 100% of the trans fat in its product.
The number
of Danes who died from cardiovascular disease fell by 70% between 1985
and 2009. No EU member state has recorded a greater decline in
mortality. Could the ban on trans fats in 2003 be the cause? Indeed, it
seems that Dr Stender's dream for Denmark may have already come true.
But I'm not the only one
entitled, "What should you eat to live a heart-healthy life?" By all
accounts, accolades, and high-fives following the presentation, it was
life-changing. Dr Neil Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK), Dr Steen
Stender (University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark), Dr Simon Poole
(Cambridge, UK), and Prof T Meinert Larsen (University of Copenhagen,
Frederiksberg, Denmark)—all nutrition gurus and scientists—spent 67
minutes teaching us how to save the world. It was probably the most
important series of the entire ESC 2015 meeting because they advocated
for nutrients whose side effects are nil (for most) and are readily
available for mass consumption (in most places). They demonstrated how a
population of unsuspecting individuals could be sickened when a
government allows a food supply to become tainted by commerce and
ignored by politicians. They proselytized with proof and enthusiasm that
we need to educate and legislate on the topic of nutrition to save
millions upon millions of lives and dollars.
You may say I'm a dreamer
Dr
Steen Stender dreams of a world without trans fat. He knows why it has
been favored by the food industry: it's cheap, can hold its shape as a
semisolid at room temp, has an ultralong shelf life, and stands up to
repeated heating. Dr Stender also understands why the 2006 Nurses'
Health Study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
demonstrated a 33% increase in the incidence of coronary heart disease
when 5 g or more of trans fat per day is consumed. Its ability to
increase LDL and decrease HDL levels is a negative double-whammy in the
lipid arena.
Because Dr Stender stood up to big commerce, he is
now a superhero in the world of trans-fat legislation. As chair of the
Danish Nutrition Council's subgroup dealing with trans fats and health,
he convinced the country of Denmark to approve a ban there effective
January 1, 2004. It is now illegal for any food to contain more than 2%
trans fats, and offenders face hefty fines and even incarceration. Proof
of the downside of taking a hard stand on trans fat is the fact that he
was sued after he outed the content of a favorite snack wafer. He
likened the public's risk of consuming it to that of smoking 10
cigarettes per day. Sales plummeted, and the company sued him for $1
million. Then, in a stunning turnaround, in 3 months, it dropped the
suit and removed 100% of the trans fat in its product.
The number
of Danes who died from cardiovascular disease fell by 70% between 1985
and 2009. No EU member state has recorded a greater decline in
mortality. Could the ban on trans fats in 2003 be the cause? Indeed, it
seems that Dr Stender's dream for Denmark may have already come true.
But I'm not the only one
In
my office, I have a copy of the Mediterranean diet pyramid at checkout
for every new patient. Many established patients who suffer from
metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, or obesity receive a second
or even a third copy. I spend hours teaching the simple mechanics of
nutrition. I stress that it's more impactful on longevity than any metal
scaffold electively deployed into a coronary artery. I found a kindred
spirit in Dr Simon Poole. His salient points came rapid fire, finding
their mark and leaving quite an impression.
"If patients with
coronary artery disease came out of the office of a practicing physician
or cardiologist not on a statin, you could argue that's a negligent
practice, but I'd argue that most have no advice on diet. I lay down the
gauntlet. We as physicians need to emphasize diet," he began. He then
lauded Dr Stender by saying, "Steen has done remarkably well with his
government. Our secretary of state wanted to make an impact. We were
shuffled into a room to discuss how to decrease mortality in 2.5 years.
We emphasized "brave legislation" (hinting at labeling, reduction in
trans-fat content, and education). The reply was a terse, "Well, we
don't do social engineering." Someone in the group argued, "If you look
at eye-level in a market at the packaging of chocolates for children . .
. if that isn't social engineering, I don't know what is."
He
made the salient points that simple things like irrigation of olives
decreases the antioxidant content of olive oil, which can ruin even good
foods. When UV light replaces natural sunlight, it can be impactful.
Furthermore, he consumes up to 50 cc of olive oil per day and recommends
frying fish in it and pouring it on pasta. He doesn't count calories.
I
quickly asked the expert if anything about my usual dietary
recommendations could be improved. I told him that I advocate for
cutting in half the consumption of bread, sweets, potatoes, pasta, and
rice and to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. I
recommend a maximum of four eggs per week and no more than one serving
of red meat per month.
Dr Poole
replied, "I don't discourage consuming pasta if they drizzle olive oil
on it because it lowers the glycemic load. I'd die without having red
meat once per week but the portion is very, very small," he said,
pointing to a small portion of the palm of his hand. "It's always grass
fed," he added and quipped, "I always know what my food ate." Further
critiquing my recommendations, he added, "I would go for more than five
portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Butternut squash, for
instance, and cucumbers are fruits of sorts. As for eggs, they are back
on the menu."
His friend Dr Aseem Malhotra (Frimley Health NHS
Foundation Trust, Camberley, UK), who was standing nearby, added,
"Following an MI, for mortality lowering, a high-fat Mediterranean diet
is more effective than aspirin, statins, and coronary stents." It was a
statement thrown like a fastball toward home plate, its implication
staggering and dead on target.
Dr Poole concluded his presentation
today by stating, "We need broader professional leadership and access
to resources. Education is key. We need to take responsibility."
I hope someday you'll join us
Dr
Neil Thomas emphasized the importance of respecting the many randomized
controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of the Mediterranean and
DASH diets to reduce all cause mortality. The impact of uneven
recommendations and the impact of the media's influence cannot be
underestimated. He cautions against supplements, stating that, "The
media regularly reports on omega-3 fatty acids for prevention and
treatment of CV disease, but there are no interventional studies that
demonstrate a reduction in mortality. The US Preventive Services Task
Force found no evidence of a positive effect of any nutritional
supplement. Although there was a 7% reduction in all-cause mortality in
one study that included vitamin D, those studies included simultaneous
calcium supplementation. Those with vitamin D alone are all negative,"
he said, then added, "There are two larger trials upcoming that will be
definitive regarding whether it's beneficial." He concluded by saying,
"With regard to beta carotene, as soon as you start giving it in
interventional trials it actually increased the risk of death."
Dr
Thomas Larsen is studying multiple dietary combinations like high- or
low-glycemic-index diets combined with higher or lower fatty- and
protein-content diets. According to the DIOGENES
trial, he noted, patients who followed a low-protein and high-glycemic
index diet were more likely to gain weight. He then added, "High-protein
diets, not low-glycemic-index diets, are the most promising
for regulation of fat mass and abdominal height." He concluded that
based on the Diogenes diet and
others, "a high-protein, low-glycemic-index diet may have additive
effects to improve body-weight regulation, is more successfully
maintained, and may be more likely to lower CVD risk factors if followed
long term."
And the world will be as one
I
challenge you take this information into your exam rooms tomorrow. Bring
along a copy of the Mediterranean diet pyramid. Talk to patients about
how adding extra virgin olive oil blunts the glycemic index of
whole-wheat pasta. Advocate against unfounded claims for dietary
supplements. Strike up a conversation with your local congressional
representatives. Imagine how we as clinicians and practitioners can
change the world one conversation at a time, one politician at a time,
and one act of legislation at a time. If you can see the future, you can
make it happen. Imagine how the world would eat and live if we all did
that tomorrow. Just imagine.
The Coca-Cola Company Sponsors Exercise Is Medicine Program: The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company Sponsors Exercise Is Medicine Program: The Coca-Cola Company
Coca-Cola
Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets
Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets
- · ·
An image
from a video by the Coca-Cola Foundation. In November 2012, the foundation
announced a $3 million grant to Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance.
The grant was intended to establish a wellness program.
from a video by the Coca-Cola Foundation. In November 2012, the foundation
announced a $3 million grant to Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance.
The grant was intended to establish a wellness program.
By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
August 9, 2015
Coca-Cola,
the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, is backing a new
“science-based” solution to the obesity crisis: To maintain a healthy weight,
get more exercise and worry less about cutting calories.
the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, is backing a new
“science-based” solution to the obesity crisis: To maintain a healthy weight,
get more exercise and worry less about cutting calories.
The
beverage giant has teamed up with influential scientists who are advancing this
message in medical journals, at conferences and through social media. To help
the scientists get the word out, Coke has provided financial and logistical
support to a new nonprofit organization called the Global Energy Balance
Network, which promotes the argument that weight-conscious Americans are overly
fixated on how much they eat and drink while not paying enough attention to
exercise.
beverage giant has teamed up with influential scientists who are advancing this
message in medical journals, at conferences and through social media. To help
the scientists get the word out, Coke has provided financial and logistical
support to a new nonprofit organization called the Global Energy Balance
Network, which promotes the argument that weight-conscious Americans are overly
fixated on how much they eat and drink while not paying enough attention to
exercise.
“Most of
the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, ‘Oh they’re
eating too much, eating too much, eating too much’ — blaming fast food, blaming
sugary drinks and so on,” the group’s vice president, Steven N. Blair, an
exercise scientist, says in a recent video announcing the new organization.
“And there’s really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the
cause.”
the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, ‘Oh they’re
eating too much, eating too much, eating too much’ — blaming fast food, blaming
sugary drinks and so on,” the group’s vice president, Steven N. Blair, an
exercise scientist, says in a recent video announcing the new organization.
“And there’s really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the
cause.”
Health
experts say this message is misleading and part of an effort by Coke to deflect
criticism about the role sugary drinks have played in the spread of obesity and
Type 2 diabetes. They contend that the company is using the new group to
convince the public that physical activity can offset a bad diet despite evidence that exercise has only minimal impact on
weight compared with what people consume.
experts say this message is misleading and part of an effort by Coke to deflect
criticism about the role sugary drinks have played in the spread of obesity and
Type 2 diabetes. They contend that the company is using the new group to
convince the public that physical activity can offset a bad diet despite evidence that exercise has only minimal impact on
weight compared with what people consume.
This
clash over the science of obesity comes in a period of rising efforts to tax
sugary drinks, remove them from schools and stop companies from marketing them
to children. In the last two decades, consumption of full-calorie sodas by the
average American has dropped by 25 percent.
clash over the science of obesity comes in a period of rising efforts to tax
sugary drinks, remove them from schools and stop companies from marketing them
to children. In the last two decades, consumption of full-calorie sodas by the
average American has dropped by 25 percent.
“Coca-Cola’s
sales are slipping, and there’s this huge political and public backlash against
soda, with every major city trying to do something to curb consumption,” said
Michele Simon, a public health lawyer. “This is a direct response to the ways
that the company is losing. They’re desperate to stop the bleeding.”
sales are slipping, and there’s this huge political and public backlash against
soda, with every major city trying to do something to curb consumption,” said
Michele Simon, a public health lawyer. “This is a direct response to the ways
that the company is losing. They’re desperate to stop the bleeding.”
Coke has
made a substantial investment in the new nonprofit. In response to requests
based on state open-records laws, two universities that employ leaders of the
Global Energy Balance Network disclosed that Coke had donated $1.5 million last
year to start the organization.
made a substantial investment in the new nonprofit. In response to requests
based on state open-records laws, two universities that employ leaders of the
Global Energy Balance Network disclosed that Coke had donated $1.5 million last
year to start the organization.
Since
2008, the company has also provided close to $4 million in funding for various
projects to two of the organization’s founding members: Dr. Blair, a professor
at the University of South Carolina whose research over the past 25 years has
formed much of the basis of federal guidelines on physical activity, and
Gregory A. Hand, dean of the West Virginia University School of Public Health.
2008, the company has also provided close to $4 million in funding for various
projects to two of the organization’s founding members: Dr. Blair, a professor
at the University of South Carolina whose research over the past 25 years has
formed much of the basis of federal guidelines on physical activity, and
Gregory A. Hand, dean of the West Virginia University School of Public Health.
Records
show that the network’s website, gebn.org, is registered to Coca-Cola
headquarters in Atlanta, and the company is also listed as the site’s
administrator. The group’s president, James O. Hill, a professor at the
University of Colorado School of Medicine, said Coke had registered the website
because the network’s members did not know how.
show that the network’s website, gebn.org, is registered to Coca-Cola
headquarters in Atlanta, and the company is also listed as the site’s
administrator. The group’s president, James O. Hill, a professor at the
University of Colorado School of Medicine, said Coke had registered the website
because the network’s members did not know how.
“They’re
not running the show,” he said. “We’re running the show.”
not running the show,” he said. “We’re running the show.”
Coca-Cola’s
public relations department repeatedly declined requests for an interview with its
chief scientific officer, Rhona Applebaum, who has called attention to the new group on Twitter. In a statement,
the company said it had a long history of supporting scientific research
related to its beverages and topics such as energy balance.
public relations department repeatedly declined requests for an interview with its
chief scientific officer, Rhona Applebaum, who has called attention to the new group on Twitter. In a statement,
the company said it had a long history of supporting scientific research
related to its beverages and topics such as energy balance.
“We
partner with some of the foremost experts in the fields of nutrition and
physical activity,” the statement said. “It’s important to us that the
researchers we work with share their own views and scientific findings,
regardless of the outcome, and are transparent and open about our funding.”
partner with some of the foremost experts in the fields of nutrition and
physical activity,” the statement said. “It’s important to us that the
researchers we work with share their own views and scientific findings,
regardless of the outcome, and are transparent and open about our funding.”
Dr. Blair
and other scientists affiliated with the group said that Coke had no control
over its work or message and that they saw no problem with the company’s
support because they had been transparent about it.
and other scientists affiliated with the group said that Coke had no control
over its work or message and that they saw no problem with the company’s
support because they had been transparent about it.
But as of
last week, the group’s Twitter and Facebook
pages, which promote physical activity as a solution to chronic disease and
obesity while remaining largely silent on the role of food and nutrition, made
no mention of Coca-Cola’s financial support. So far, the social media campaign
has failed to gain much traction: As of Friday, the group had fewer than 1,000
followers on Twitter.
last week, the group’s Twitter and Facebook
pages, which promote physical activity as a solution to chronic disease and
obesity while remaining largely silent on the role of food and nutrition, made
no mention of Coca-Cola’s financial support. So far, the social media campaign
has failed to gain much traction: As of Friday, the group had fewer than 1,000
followers on Twitter.
A
screengrab from the video about Coke's commitment to promoting fitness in
Chicago.
screengrab from the video about Coke's commitment to promoting fitness in
Chicago.
The
group’s website also omitted mention of Coke’s backing until Dr. Yoni
Freedhoff, an obesity expert at the University of Ottawa, wrote to the
organization to inquire about its funding. Dr. Blair said this was an oversight
that had been quickly corrected.
group’s website also omitted mention of Coke’s backing until Dr. Yoni
Freedhoff, an obesity expert at the University of Ottawa, wrote to the
organization to inquire about its funding. Dr. Blair said this was an oversight
that had been quickly corrected.
“As soon
as we discovered that we didn’t have not only Coca-Cola but other funding
sources on the website, we put it on there,” Dr. Blair said. “Does that make us
totally corrupt in everything we do?”
as we discovered that we didn’t have not only Coca-Cola but other funding
sources on the website, we put it on there,” Dr. Blair said. “Does that make us
totally corrupt in everything we do?”
Coke’s
involvement in the new organization is not the only example of corporate-funded
research and advocacy to come under fire lately. The American Society for
Nutrition and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics have been criticized by public health advocates for
forming partnerships with companies such as Kraft Foods, McDonald’s,
PepsiCo and Hershey’s. Dietitians have also faced criticism for taking payments from Coke to present
the company’s soda as a healthy snack.
involvement in the new organization is not the only example of corporate-funded
research and advocacy to come under fire lately. The American Society for
Nutrition and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics have been criticized by public health advocates for
forming partnerships with companies such as Kraft Foods, McDonald’s,
PepsiCo and Hershey’s. Dietitians have also faced criticism for taking payments from Coke to present
the company’s soda as a healthy snack.
Critics say
Coke has long cast the obesity epidemic as primarily an exercise problem. “The
message is that obesity is not about the foods or beverages you’re consuming,
it’s that you’re not balancing those foods with exercise,” Dr. Freedhoff of the
University of Ottawa said.
Coke has long cast the obesity epidemic as primarily an exercise problem. “The
message is that obesity is not about the foods or beverages you’re consuming,
it’s that you’re not balancing those foods with exercise,” Dr. Freedhoff of the
University of Ottawa said.
Now,
public health advocates say, Coca-Cola is going a step further, recruiting
reputable scientists to make the case for them.
public health advocates say, Coca-Cola is going a step further, recruiting
reputable scientists to make the case for them.
Dr. Hill,
the nonprofit’s president, is a co-founder of the National Weight Control Registry, a long-term study of
people who have lost weight, and has served on committees for the
World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health. The American
Society for Nutrition refers to him as “a leader in the fight against the global
obesity epidemic.”
the nonprofit’s president, is a co-founder of the National Weight Control Registry, a long-term study of
people who have lost weight, and has served on committees for the
World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health. The American
Society for Nutrition refers to him as “a leader in the fight against the global
obesity epidemic.”
Barry M.
Popkin, a professor of global nutrition at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, said Coke’s support of prominent health researchers was
reminiscent of tactics used by the tobacco industry, which enlisted experts to
become “merchants of doubt” about the health hazards of smoking.
Popkin, a professor of global nutrition at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, said Coke’s support of prominent health researchers was
reminiscent of tactics used by the tobacco industry, which enlisted experts to
become “merchants of doubt” about the health hazards of smoking.
Marion
Nestle, the author of the book “Soda Politics” and a professor of nutrition,
food studies and public health at New York University, was especially blunt:
“The Global Energy Balance Network is nothing but a front group for Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola’s agenda here is very clear: Get these researchers to confuse the
science and deflect attention from dietary intake.”
Nestle, the author of the book “Soda Politics” and a professor of nutrition,
food studies and public health at New York University, was especially blunt:
“The Global Energy Balance Network is nothing but a front group for Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola’s agenda here is very clear: Get these researchers to confuse the
science and deflect attention from dietary intake.”
Funding
from the food industry is not uncommon in scientific research. But studies
suggest that the funds tend to bias findings. A recent analysis of beverage
studies, published in the journal PLOS Medicine,
found that those funded by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, the American Beverage
Association and the sugar industry were five times more likely to find no link
between sugary drinks and weight gain than studies whose authors reported no
financial conflicts.
from the food industry is not uncommon in scientific research. But studies
suggest that the funds tend to bias findings. A recent analysis of beverage
studies, published in the journal PLOS Medicine,
found that those funded by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, the American Beverage
Association and the sugar industry were five times more likely to find no link
between sugary drinks and weight gain than studies whose authors reported no
financial conflicts.
On its website,
the new nonprofit promises to be “the voice of science” in discussions about
healthy lifestyles and contends that the concept of energy balance provides “a
new science-based framework” for achieving a stable body weight.
the new nonprofit promises to be “the voice of science” in discussions about
healthy lifestyles and contends that the concept of energy balance provides “a
new science-based framework” for achieving a stable body weight.
The group
says there is “strong evidence” that the key to preventing weight gain is not
reducing food intake — as many public health experts recommend — “but
maintaining an active lifestyle and eating more calories.” To back
up this contention, the group provides links to two research
papers, each of which contains this footnote: “The publication of this article
was supported by The Coca-Cola Company.”
says there is “strong evidence” that the key to preventing weight gain is not
reducing food intake — as many public health experts recommend — “but
maintaining an active lifestyle and eating more calories.” To back
up this contention, the group provides links to two research
papers, each of which contains this footnote: “The publication of this article
was supported by The Coca-Cola Company.”
In March,
Dr. Hill, Dr. Blair, and Dr. Hand announced the creation of the organization in
an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
They argued that the public and many scientists largely overlooked physical
inactivity as a cause of obesity. They said they were creating the Global
Energy Balance Network to raise awareness “about both sides of the energy
balance equation.”
Dr. Hill, Dr. Blair, and Dr. Hand announced the creation of the organization in
an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
They argued that the public and many scientists largely overlooked physical
inactivity as a cause of obesity. They said they were creating the Global
Energy Balance Network to raise awareness “about both sides of the energy
balance equation.”
The
editorial contained a disclosure that the group had received an “unrestricted
education gift” from Coca-Cola.
editorial contained a disclosure that the group had received an “unrestricted
education gift” from Coca-Cola.
In
response to a request made under the state Freedom of Information Act, the
University of South Carolina disclosed that Dr. Blair had received more than
$3.5 million in funding from Coke for research projects since 2008.
response to a request made under the state Freedom of Information Act, the
University of South Carolina disclosed that Dr. Blair had received more than
$3.5 million in funding from Coke for research projects since 2008.
The
university also disclosed that Coca-Cola had provided significant funding to
Dr. Hand, who left the University of South Carolina last year for West
Virginia. The company gave him $806,500 for an “energy flux” study in 2011 and
$507,000 last year to establish the Global Energy Balance Network.
university also disclosed that Coca-Cola had provided significant funding to
Dr. Hand, who left the University of South Carolina last year for West
Virginia. The company gave him $806,500 for an “energy flux” study in 2011 and
$507,000 last year to establish the Global Energy Balance Network.
It is
unclear how much of the money, if any, ended up as personal income for the
professors.
unclear how much of the money, if any, ended up as personal income for the
professors.
“As long
as everybody is disclosing their potential conflicts and they’re being managed
appropriately, that’s the best that you can do,” Dr. Hand said. “It makes
perfect sense that companies would want the best science that they can get.”
as everybody is disclosing their potential conflicts and they’re being managed
appropriately, that’s the best that you can do,” Dr. Hand said. “It makes
perfect sense that companies would want the best science that they can get.”
Three
scientists who helped start the new nonprofit supported by Coke, from left:
Steven N. Blair, a professor in the department of exercise science,
epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina;
James O. Hill, a professor at the University of Colorado School of
Medicine; and Gregory A. Hand, dean of the West Virginia University
School of Public Health.
scientists who helped start the new nonprofit supported by Coke, from left:
Steven N. Blair, a professor in the department of exercise science,
epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina;
James O. Hill, a professor at the University of Colorado School of
Medicine; and Gregory A. Hand, dean of the West Virginia University
School of Public Health.
University
of Colorado, West Virginia University
of Colorado, West Virginia University
The
group’s president, Dr. Hill, also has financial ties to Coca-Cola. The company
last year gave an “unrestricted monetary gift” of $1 million to the University
of Colorado Foundation. In response to a request made under the Colorado Open
Records Act, the university said that Coca-Cola had provided the money “for the
purposes of funding” the Global Energy Balance Network.
group’s president, Dr. Hill, also has financial ties to Coca-Cola. The company
last year gave an “unrestricted monetary gift” of $1 million to the University
of Colorado Foundation. In response to a request made under the Colorado Open
Records Act, the university said that Coca-Cola had provided the money “for the
purposes of funding” the Global Energy Balance Network.
Dr. Hill
said he had sought money from Coke to start the nonprofit because there was no
funding available from his university. The group’s website says it is also
supported by a few universities and ShareWIK Media Group, a producer of videos
about health. Dr. Hill said that he had also received a commitment of help from
General Mills, as well as promises of support from other businesses, which had
not formally confirmed their offers.
said he had sought money from Coke to start the nonprofit because there was no
funding available from his university. The group’s website says it is also
supported by a few universities and ShareWIK Media Group, a producer of videos
about health. Dr. Hill said that he had also received a commitment of help from
General Mills, as well as promises of support from other businesses, which had
not formally confirmed their offers.
He said
he believed public health authorities could more easily change the way people
eat by working with the food industry instead of against it.
he believed public health authorities could more easily change the way people
eat by working with the food industry instead of against it.
On its
website, the group recommends combining greater exercise and food intake
because, Dr. Hill said, “ ‘Eat less’ has never been a message that’s been
effective. The message should be ‘Move more and eat smarter.’ ”
website, the group recommends combining greater exercise and food intake
because, Dr. Hill said, “ ‘Eat less’ has never been a message that’s been
effective. The message should be ‘Move more and eat smarter.’ ”
He
emphasized that weight loss involved a combination of complex factors and that
his group’s goal was not to play down the role of diet or to portray obesity as
solely a problem of inadequate exercise.
emphasized that weight loss involved a combination of complex factors and that
his group’s goal was not to play down the role of diet or to portray obesity as
solely a problem of inadequate exercise.
“If we
are out there saying it’s all about physical activity and it’s not about food,
then we deserve criticism,” he said. “But I think we haven’t done that.”
are out there saying it’s all about physical activity and it’s not about food,
then we deserve criticism,” he said. “But I think we haven’t done that.”
But in
news releases and on its website, the group has struck a different tone.
news releases and on its website, the group has struck a different tone.
“The
media tends to blame the obesity epidemic on our poor eating habits,” one recent news release states. “But are
those french fries really the culprit? Dr. Steve Blair explains that you
shouldn’t believe everything you see on TV.”
media tends to blame the obesity epidemic on our poor eating habits,” one recent news release states. “But are
those french fries really the culprit? Dr. Steve Blair explains that you
shouldn’t believe everything you see on TV.”
Dr. Yoni
Freedhoff, an obesity expert at the University of Ottawa.
Freedhoff, an obesity expert at the University of Ottawa.
Justin
Tang for The New York Times
Tang for The New York Times
In the
news release, Dr. Blair suggests that sedentary behavior is a bigger factor.
news release, Dr. Blair suggests that sedentary behavior is a bigger factor.
Most
public health experts say that energy balance is an important concept, because
weight gain for most people is about calories in vs. calories out. But the
experts say research makes it clear that one side of the equation has a far greater effect.
public health experts say that energy balance is an important concept, because
weight gain for most people is about calories in vs. calories out. But the
experts say research makes it clear that one side of the equation has a far greater effect.
While
people can lose weight in several ways, many studies suggest that those who
keep it off for good consume fewer calories. Growing evidence
also suggests that maintaining weight loss is easier when people
limit their intake of high glycemic foods such as sugary drinks and other
refined carbohydrates, which sharply raise blood sugar.
people can lose weight in several ways, many studies suggest that those who
keep it off for good consume fewer calories. Growing evidence
also suggests that maintaining weight loss is easier when people
limit their intake of high glycemic foods such as sugary drinks and other
refined carbohydrates, which sharply raise blood sugar.
Physical
activity is important and certainly helps, experts say. But studies show that exercise increases appetite, causing
people to consume more calories. Exercise also expends far fewer calories than
most people think. A 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola, for example, contains 140
calories and roughly 10 teaspoons of sugar. “It takes three miles of walking to
offset that one can of Coke,” Dr. Popkin said.
activity is important and certainly helps, experts say. But studies show that exercise increases appetite, causing
people to consume more calories. Exercise also expends far fewer calories than
most people think. A 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola, for example, contains 140
calories and roughly 10 teaspoons of sugar. “It takes three miles of walking to
offset that one can of Coke,” Dr. Popkin said.
In one of
the most rigorous studies of physical activity and weight loss, published in the journal Obesity,
scientists recruited 200 overweight, sedentary adults and put them on an
aggressive exercise program. To isolate the effects of exercise on their
weight, the subjects were instructed not to make any changes in their diets.
the most rigorous studies of physical activity and weight loss, published in the journal Obesity,
scientists recruited 200 overweight, sedentary adults and put them on an
aggressive exercise program. To isolate the effects of exercise on their
weight, the subjects were instructed not to make any changes in their diets.
Participants
were monitored to ensure they exercised five to six hours a week, more than
double the 2.5 weekly hours of exercise recommended in federal guidelines.
After a year, the men had lost an average of just 3.5 pounds, the women 2.5.
Almost everyone was still overweight or obese.
were monitored to ensure they exercised five to six hours a week, more than
double the 2.5 weekly hours of exercise recommended in federal guidelines.
After a year, the men had lost an average of just 3.5 pounds, the women 2.5.
Almost everyone was still overweight or obese.
“Adding
exercise to a diet program helps,” said Dr. Anne McTiernan, the lead author of
the study and a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.
“But for weight loss, you’re going to get much more impact with diet changes.”
exercise to a diet program helps,” said Dr. Anne McTiernan, the lead author of
the study and a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.
“But for weight loss, you’re going to get much more impact with diet changes.”
But much
like the research on sugary drinks, studies of physical activity funded by the
beverage industry tend to reach conclusions that differ from the findings of
studies by independent scientists.
like the research on sugary drinks, studies of physical activity funded by the
beverage industry tend to reach conclusions that differ from the findings of
studies by independent scientists.
Last
week, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana announced
the findings of a large new study on exercise in children that
determined that lack of physical activity “is the biggest predictor of
childhood obesity around the world.”
week, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana announced
the findings of a large new study on exercise in children that
determined that lack of physical activity “is the biggest predictor of
childhood obesity around the world.”
The news
release contained a disclosure: “This research was funded by The Coca-Cola
Company.”
release contained a disclosure: “This research was funded by The Coca-Cola
Company.”
Kelly D.
Brownell, dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke, said that as a
business, Coke “focused on pushing a lot of calories in, but then their
philanthropy is focused on the calories out part, the exercise.”
Brownell, dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke, said that as a
business, Coke “focused on pushing a lot of calories in, but then their
philanthropy is focused on the calories out part, the exercise.”
In recent
years, Coke has donated money to build fitness centers in more than 100 schools
across the country. It sponsors a program called “Exercise is Medicine” to
encourage doctors to prescribe physical activity to patients. And when
Chicago’s City Council proposed a soda tax in 2012 to help address the
city’s obesity problem, Coca-Cola donated $3 million to establish fitness programs
in more than 60 of the city’s community centers.
years, Coke has donated money to build fitness centers in more than 100 schools
across the country. It sponsors a program called “Exercise is Medicine” to
encourage doctors to prescribe physical activity to patients. And when
Chicago’s City Council proposed a soda tax in 2012 to help address the
city’s obesity problem, Coca-Cola donated $3 million to establish fitness programs
in more than 60 of the city’s community centers.
The
initiative to tax soda ultimately failed.
initiative to tax soda ultimately failed.
“Reversing
the obesity trend won’t happen overnight,” Coca-Cola said in
an ad for its Chicago exercise initiative. “But for thousands of
families in Chicago, it starts now, with the next push-up, a single situp or a
jumping jack.”
the obesity trend won’t happen overnight,” Coca-Cola said in
an ad for its Chicago exercise initiative. “But for thousands of
families in Chicago, it starts now, with the next push-up, a single situp or a
jumping jack.”
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