Grains of Truth About Fad Diets & Obesity

1. Grains of Truth About Fad Diets & Obesity Americans Realize Road to Good Health and Weight Loss a Long One

2. Grains of Truth About Fad Diets & Obesity • The consumer’s-eye view of … • Dieting • Obesity • Grains • Grains of truth about dieting, obesity, and grains • Communicating nutrition truths

3. The Gallup Survey • What – Gallup survey of 1,000 primary grocery shoppers • Where – Survey was conducted throughout the United States • When – Participants were questioned fall 2002 • How – Phone interviews of randomly selected households were conducted • Why – To gauge consumer attitudes toward nutrition

4. Don’t Believe the Fad Diet Hype • 75% of shoppers believe high-protein, low-carb diets can be difficult to maintain • 70% agree their bodies need carbs for energy and eliminating carbs is not healthy

5. Don’t Believe the Fad Diet Hype • 56% think high-protein, low-carb diets help you lose weight • 61% think following a high-protein, low-carb diet is a safe way to lose weight • 58% think carbs must be eliminated from the body to lose weight

6. Low-fat diet Food Guide Pyramid diet Doctor-recommended diet High-protein, low-carb diet Weight-loss organization diet Liquid diet/diet pills Don’t Believe the Fad Diet Hype Percentage of dieters who have tried a:

7. The Obesity Epidemic • Percentage of Americans that are overweight or obese: 64% • Percentage of Americans that correctly agree grain foods are not a cause of obesity: 69%

8. The Obesity Epidemic According to parents of elementary/middle-school children, who is responsible for teaching children about nutrition? Media/community organizations 2% Schools 11% Parents 87%

9. The Obesity Epidemic How often do parents talk to their kids about maintaining a healthful weight? Never 12% Don’t know 2% Rarely 14% Often 52% Sometimes 20%

10. Agree grain foods may help prevent heart disease Agree grain foods may help prevent cancer Agree grain foods help increase energy Agree grain foods help with weight control Feeling Good About Grains Consumers correctly agree grain foods can assist with health-related problems:

11. Feeling Good About Grains Percentage of consumers who consider the following foods healthful: Chicken noodle soup Breakfast cereals Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches Freshly baked bread Crackers Cereal snack bars Muffins

12. Feeling Good About Grains Agree enriched grain foodsare a good source of folic acid Agree folic acid is helpful inreducing the risk of heart disease Agree folic acid is helpfulin preventing birth defects

13. Complex carbohydratesare good for you Bread is fattening Pasta is fattening Starches should be avoided Feeling Good About Grains Percentage who agree that:

14. Grains of Truth About Dieting • High-protein, low-carb diets • American Heart Association issued advisory warning of potential increased risk of cardiovascular disease • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center study showed increased risk for kidney stones, bone loss • Tufts University recently questioned validity of research supporting Atkins diet’s weight-loss claims Sources: American Heart Association, October 2001;American Journal of Kidney Disease (40, 2:265-74, 2002);Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, January 2003

15. Grains of Truth About Dieting • Diets that eliminate enriched grains have dire consequences • A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Society found grain fortification with folic acid could decrease coronary heart disease • Neural tube birth defects decreased 23% following folic acid fortification of enriched grains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sources: Journal of the American Medical Society, Aug. 22, 2001; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2002

16. Grains of Truth About Dieting • Glycemic index as a diet method • American Diabetes Association says glycemic index (GI) has limited value in diabetes prevention or in food selection • American Dietetic Association notes a healthful diet should include a variety of foods, including grains, and not be based on a single marker

17. Grains of Truth About Dieting • Healthy, long-term weight loss • Factors for successful weight loss reported to the National Weight Control Registry include eating a low-fat, high-carb diet • USDA study found high-carb dieters ate 300 fewer calories a day than low-carb dieters and were more likely to be in the normal weight range Sources: Obesity Research, 2002 (10:78-82);USDA Agricultural Research Service; Journal of the American College of Nutrition, June 2002

18. Grains of Truth About Obesity • Americans (eating larger portions and exercising less) are now 64% overweight/obese • One in six American kids are overweight or obese • Italy, France (where consumers eat more bread and pasta than Americans) boast lower obesity rates • Asian diet (high in vegetables and grains) linked to lower rates of obesity heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers

19. Grains of Truth About Grains

20. Grains of Truth About Grains • Fiber • Adds bulk to digestion; assists with appetite control • Soluble fiber can help lower blood cholesterol • Insoluble fiber can help reduce risk of certain cancers • Fiber in grain foods, especially insoluble fiber, may protect against diverticular disease • Folic acid • Helps prevent neural tube birth defects when 400 micrograms (mcg) are consumed daily before pregnancy • May help reduce risk of heart disease, some cancers, childhood leukemia, and Alzheimer’s

21. Grains of Truth About Grains • Carbohydrates • Provide energy for working muscles and the brain • May have a positive effect on weight regulation • Are protein-sparing and the most efficient source of energy • Antioxidants/phytoestrogens • May help reduce risks of some forms of cancer • May help fight menopausal symptoms

22. Grains of Truth About Grains • White bread • Enriched flour • Good source of iron, B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid), and nearly 1 gram of fiber • Contains as many antioxidants as many fruits & vegetables • Wheat bread • Enriched and whole-wheat flour • Contains various amounts of fiber and phytonutrients • Whole-wheat bread • Whole-wheat flour • Provides 2 to 3 grams of fiber per slice • Contains numerous phytonutrients

23. Communicating Nutrition Truths • Link nutrition education to health concerns • Relate the nutrition message to something they already know • Encourage adults to assess their own dietary practices • Use active participation and learning, providing opportunities for social interaction/support • Include food demonstrations, recipes, and practical tips • Honor cultural backgrounds, local customs, and personal preferences • Provide take-home materials, posters, and tip sheets on healthy eating Source: Contento, et al., (1995); Journal of Nutrition Education

24. Communicating Nutrition Truths • Divide responsibilities • Parents should take responsibility for what, when, and where children are offered food • Children should take responsibility for how much or whether they eat • Focus mealtime energies on providing healthy foods and creating happy, positive, family-oriented eating experiences Source: USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Consumer News — Nutrition & Your Child, Volume 3, 2002

25. Communicating Nutrition Truths • Make snack time a healthy choice — stock the kitchen with positive options and a variety of healthful foods • Strike a balance — at fast-food restaurants, allow children to pick a favorite food, but balance it with a healthy food like low-fat milk or a salad • Lead by example — studies show children’s eating habits tend to mirror those of their parents Source: USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Consumer News — Nutrition & Your Child, Volume 3, 2002

26. Need More Nutrition Resources? • www.wheatfoods.org • www.usda.gov/cnpp