Whether it’s Chocolate Cheerios advertising that it “may reduce the risk of heart disease”, Juicy Juice claiming it aids “brain development” or Nestle’s Drumsticks showcasing it has “0g Trans Fat” but leaving out that eating them may actually help make you fat – the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is fed up with false and misleading claims on food labels.
The FDA has sent out a group of letters warning companies about their misleading advertising practices. The commissioner of food and drugs, Margaret Hamburg, M.D., stated on the FDA’s website, “Today, ready access to reliable information about the calorie and nutrient content of food is even more important, given the prevalence of obesity and diet-related diseases in the United States.”
The FDA sent out 17 letters in total addressing the questionable labeling on 22 food products. You can view a list of all of these products on the FDA’s website.
We’re constantly told that if we eat less and exercise more, the pounds will come sliding off. Not true. According to a recent study, small caloric changes have almost no long-term effect on weight.
While this news is disappointing, Children’s obesity expert – David Ludwig, MD, PhD, tell The New York Times that there is hope, especially for children. Small changes made during childhood lead to a much healthier adult lifestyle.
You can read more of Ludwig has to say on topic of childhood obesity here on Thrive.
by Children's Hospital Boston staff on February 24, 2010
Walking down the cereal aisle at the supermarket, it’s impossible to miss the declarations of health benefits prominently located on the fronts of the colorful boxes. The Nutrition Facts Panel—a valuable consumer resource that lists a product’s sugar, salt, fat and calorie content—is usually printed on the side of the box. But do parents searching for a healthful choice even bother to read the nutritional information when the front of the box suggests the product is made of “whole grain goodness” and “immune-boosting” vitamins?
Unfortunately many don’t and that’s a real problem, says David Ludwig, MD, PhD, in a commentary co-authored with Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). “We’ve arrived at the deplorable situation of Cocoa Krispies being marketed as a way to protect children from H1N1 flu, because it has a few added vitamins,” says Ludwig.
Consumers tend to believe claims on the front of packages, according to recent research, and perceive health statements to be endorsed by the government. But few health claims on food products have any basis in science at all. And unlike medications, food product labels don’t have to disclose their potential ill effects, such as obesity from high added sugar content. [click to continue…]
Judy Palfrey, MD, FAAP, has been a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Boston since 1974. She is a general pediatrician and child advocate. She was chief of Children’s General Pediatrics Division from 1986 to 2008 and currently directs the Children’s International Pediatric Center.
Dr. Palfrey is the new president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which is the nation’s largest pediatric organization, with a membership of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists.
A week or so ago, I heard the story of a mother who was incredibly grateful to her pediatrician. She described her fairly typical family: 2 full-time working parents with 2 children.
Each day, she said, was crammed with rushing here and there with work and school commitments and little time at the end of the day for meal preparation. She described how with all the 21st century pressures, she and her husband were relying increasingly on pizza deliveries and drive-through hamburger stores for their family dinner.
When her pediatrician sat down and alerted her that her little girls’ BMI measurements were creeping up, she put into place several small adjustments: decreasing the size of meal portions, adding fruits and vegetables to meals and snacks, putting water instead of juice in their lunches and watching TV only on the weekends. She said that these changes were really very easy to do. [click to continue…]
This week there has been a lot of coverage on the topic of childhood obesity. It’s not a new subject and one that we’re likely to hear much more on this year.
The Boston Globe reports that for the next 18 months, every public school in Massachusetts will evaluate whether students weigh too much or too little by calculating their body mass index (BMI) scores. [click to continue…]
New studies indicate that after decades of Americans steadily gaining weight, they may have finally hit a plateau, reports an article in The Boston Globe.
Children’s obesity expert, David Ludwig, MD, PhD is quoted as saying that while it is a relief that these rates are not continuting to rise, it is certainly not cause for celebration. “If we continue those unhealthful habits, we just continue to maintain weights the way they are. It actually takes a marked improvement in lifestyles to start bringing weight down.”
A new study co-authored by Children’s obesity expert David Ludwig, MD, PhD, says that the majority of obese Americans will not lose a significant amount of weight unless there are serious societal changes concerning food. The article, published in JAMA, takes a look at the science involved in caloric intake versus physical activity and suggests that fundamental changes in America’s food supply and social infrastructure must take place in order to successfully take on the obesity epidemic.
1. Eat three balanced meals a day. Have a healthy snack when hungry. Stop eating when full.
2. Eat only in designated eating areas and not in front of a screen of any type.
3. Eat foods that look like they come from nature, not a factory, with emphasis on vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
4. Drink unsweetened or minimally sweetened beverages, including water, effervescent mineral water, and tea or coffee with no more than one or two teaspoons of sugar.
5. If so inclined, have dessert every night, but keep it light (e.g., fruit, a few nuts or a small piece of something you really enjoy). Limit high calorie treats to once a week.
6. Do something physically active every day. Walk rather than drive and take the stairs rather than the elevator.
7. Follow items 1 through 6 for the rest of your life.
Whether it’s Chocolate Cheerios advertising that it “may reduce the risk of heart disease”, Juicy Juice claiming it aids “brain development” or Nestle’s Drumsticks showcasing it has “0g Trans Fat” but leaving out that eating them may actually help make you fat – the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is fed up with false and misleading claims on food labels.
Walking down the cereal aisle at the supermarket, it’s impossible to miss the declarations of health benefits prominently located on the fronts of the colorful boxes. The Nutrition Facts Panel—a valuable consumer resource that lists a product’s sugar, salt, fat and calorie content—is usually printed on the side of the box. But do parents searching for a healthful choice even bother to read the nutritional information when the front of the box suggests the product is made of “whole grain goodness” and “immune-boosting” vitamins?
This week there has been a lot of coverage on the topic of childhood obesity. It’s not a new subject and one that we’re likely to hear much more on this year.
New studies indicate that after decades of Americans steadily gaining weight, they may have finally hit a plateau, reports an article in 
A new study co-authored by Children’s obesity expert 
For those in need of some New Year’s resolution inspiration, check out this op-ed in the Boston Herald by 
