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

Grains of Truth About Fad Diets & Obesity

Americans Realize Road to Good Health and Weight Loss a Long One

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

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

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


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


23%

27%

35%

35%

45%

60%Low-fat diet

Food Guide Pyramid diet

Doctor-recommended diet

High-protein, low-carb diet

Weight-loss organization diet

Liquid diet/diet pills

Percentage of dieters who have tried a:

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%


According to parents of elementary/middle-school children, who is responsible for teaching children about nutrition?

Parents87%

Schools11%

Media/community organizations2%


Often52%

Never12%

Don’t know2%

How often do parents talk to their kids about maintaining a healthful weight?

Rarely14%

Sometimes20%

Feeling Good About Grains

Consumers correctly agree grain foods can assist with health-related problems:

63%

81%

68%

76%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


75%

83%

83%

53%

57%

60%

63%

Chicken noodle soup

Breakfast cereals

Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

Freshly baked bread

Crackers

Cereal snack bars

Muffins

Percentage of consumers who consider the following foods healthful:


64%

68%

54%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

Feeling Good About GrainsPercentage who agree that:

45%

40%

45%

71%

44%

48%

52%

73%

48%

54%

56%

63%

36%

29%

38%

72%

2002

2000

1998

1996

Complex carbohydratesare good for you

Bread is fattening

Pasta is fattening

Starches should be avoided

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


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


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


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

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

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


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


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

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


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


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

Need More Nutrition Resources?

www.wheatfoods.orgwww.usda.gov/cnpp

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