July 2011 Archives

Here is an article that recently caught my eye: "Long-term habituation to food in obese and non-obese women" by Leonard Epstein, et al., in the August American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It made me think about the advice we usually give to consumers. "Eat a well-balanced diet, including a variety of foods" is usually part of the message.

Epstein's study gives us reason to ponder this automatic response. The authors found that women, whether in the study's obese or its non-obese group, ate more food when they were given a variety of foods every day. Subjects in both groups who were fed the same macaroni and cheese every day for weeks, however, decreased their intake and consumed fewer calories. This finding brought back memories of the all-banana or all-hot dog or all-ice cream diets that surface from year to year with a promise to cure obesity. Of course, it's not the particular food that's making a difference - but does the lack of variety play a role?

Here is what this study and the accompanying commentary say to me and what I believe nutrition professionals should be thinking about as they try to help consumers adopt healthy eating patterns and/or lose weight:

·         Keep an open mind to all (basically sound) approaches. What works for one person may not work for another. Find out what the consumer wants and build around that foundation. Innovate!

·         Food-related behavior is very complex. It's going to take a long time to unravel the brain chemistry involved. Understanding behavior modification strategies is becoming increasingly important. Get familiar with this research and share your views.

·          Take a leadership position in the profession by developing your expertise in behavior and food intake. Determine how your work on the front lines with consumers can move the field forward.

This observation comes from Karen Lechowich, MBA, RD, ADA's executive administrator for diversity, alliances and international relations. I thought it was important to share her concern here, namely: What about the teens?

When tackling the obesity issue in this country we focus on children and adults. Adolescents are often overlooked, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, the prevalence of obesity among those aged 12 to 19 years has increased from 5.0% to 18.1% over the past 30 years. Type 2 diabetes among teens has increased dramatically as a result.

How about intervening at the start of junior high and again before college with a screening that includes an assessment of healthy weight. When there is an issue with overweight or obesity (or disordered eating), these teens can be referred to private or community resources for help learning to maintain weight successfully and pursue a healthier lifestyle. This strategy takes advantage of natural transitions in a teen's life and, once established, will become a normal part of progressing through school.