fast food and the Dept. of Health

[Millificent]

Interesting article in today's Washington Post

:dragon Millie


Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson told representatives of the fast-food industry yesterday that they should offer and aggressively advertise more fruits and vegetables, reexamine their "supersize" portions and generally offer more healthful food.

"I want more choices and healthier choices on their menus, and advertising campaigns to eat healthy," Thompson said after the meeting. "We are too fat and don't exercise, and I invited them to be part of the solution."

Concerned about the increasing number of Americans who are overweight and obese, Thompson said the meeting was one of many he will have with industries and groups involved with food, nutrition and physical exercise.

Thompson said that he raised the issue of large, supersize portions in particular and that the restaurant industry defended its serving sizes. Steven Anderson of the National Restaurant Association, which represents restaurants of all styles, said its surveys have found that ******** percent of Americans believe restaurant portions are the right size. But both sides said they were looking for ways to work together.

HHS officials said that all the large fast-food companies were invited to attend the meeting but that only Wendy's and Burger King sent their own representatives. The others were represented by the restaurant association and the National Council of Chain Restaurants.

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, also at the meeting, pushed for more promotions of fruits and vegetables. She also urged the restaurant chains to explore new technologies that allow apples and carrots, for instance, to remain fresh for longer.

The issue of burgeoning American obesity, especially among children, is an emotional one for all involved. The fast-food industry generally argues that its products are a healthful part of a balanced diet, but critics say that heavy advertising of high-calorie fried foods encourages people to eat unwisely.

Thompson said that the federal government was interested in working with the industry but that he felt strongly that fast-food restaurants in particular needed to "find ways to merchandise healthier food."

Anderson, of the National Restaurant Association, defended the selections available generally, saying that customers don't have to look far for healthful choices.

Thompson said he planned to meet with soft drink makers as well, and that he wanted to encourage schools to return physical education to their curriculums.

[drsharky]

Great article, Millie--
I think there are other important points raised here:
First, don't forget that sedentary habits lead to diagnosis of Type II diabetes, even in children. Type II, back when I was a youngster, used to be called "adult onset" diabetes, because it was assumed that you had to engage in these habits for a long time. No longer is that the case.
Second (and remembering that we are on an ED Web site), I think a good rule of thumb is to exercise moderation. A little fast food is not bad for you. Nor is moderate, regular exercise. Just as we remember that too much dieting is unhealthy, we should remember that going to the opposite extreme is as well. Strive for healthy, balanced meals and moderate exercise for the best health. I think the US government is with me on this one, but check out the National Institutes of Health to be sure.
s

[miss_scarlet]

Terrific article, Millie.

I agree that portion sizes need to be reduced. Not only in fast food restaurants, but in all restaurants in general. I think that the vast majority of North Americans have little to no idea how big/small a 'serving size' really is. No wonder so many people agree that fast food restaurant portions are correct -- we've been programmed to believe it.

I read somewhere once that "supersize" fries at fast food restaurants don't exist anywhere else other than North America -- that alone should tell us that there's something wrong with our line of thinking.

However, I do believe that the onus is truly on the individual to become informed and learn about portion sizes, healthy eating, and exercise. It's true that 'fast food' can be part of a perfectly healthy diet -- if we make healthy choices the rest of the time. We can't place all the blame on the fast food industry -- after all, we're the ones buying the supersize fries and drinks when we order a burger. If we didn't, they wouldn't be on the menu.

Just my two cents! :happy

[PeanutDuck]

Thanks for posting this Millie....

Oddly, I never thought of this fast-food fat content/portion size thing as an ISSUE. My thinking was along the lines of: 'Well everyone knows how high fat this stuff is. Restaurants want to make money. I'm sure the stuff they use is probably cheaper than a healthier method. People are choosing these high fat diets. Well duh!"

Some of this may be flawed. : )

But I guess the truth is is that a compromise is available. That restaurants CAN offer lower fat choices and people need to be educated. Variety is the spice of life. Give people the option, they might take it.

However, what about the fact that fast food is often cheaper? Therefore, lower income people are more likely to buy it. I know that a hefty portion of my grocery bill is produce.

Plus, schools don't have money for exercise programs. I elementary school I remember being on an every other day schedule b/c of overcrowding.

Finally, with all this focus on unhealthy eating and non-exercise, sometimes I wonder if this is also a symptom of general societal illness. Where those who are educated (and nowadays it's difficult not to find some program on the evils of fast food) don't make those healthier choices. What does that mean about our people?

Somehow I think it often relates back to the American image of the body and food. Fat bad, thin good. I read somewhere how France's health education focuses on exercise and eating healthy as something good for your body and makes you feel good. A much more positive message. It is...positive correlation rather than the negative correlation of America's message. As a result, France's obesity is low.

Am I making sense? While there is a need for those phys ed programs and education, I think that an investigation of the mental health of our society and as it is perpetuated throughout society (through media etc) needs to be investigated.

Hope this was interesting enough to read!

squishy
peanut

[QofC]

Reader's Digest has an article this month about health and fast food restaraunts... I haven't had a chance to read it entirely, but I know there are numbers mentioned...
:trigger

[Millificent]

Dr. S,

NIH (which is where I work) does have one booklet on eating disorders. However, they don't have any programs on it and neither does the CDC. The government is much more focused on obesity, with an emphasis on nutrition and exercise but not the emotional aspects.

Scarlet,

I completely agree that our ideas of portion size are really screwed up. How often do people take home doggie-bags from restaurants these days? We have this idea that we have to eat the whole overflowing plate to get our money's worth.

I wonder if this emphasis on obesity is finally going to push more insurance companies to cover nutritional counseling?

Peanut,

You are right about the problem of poor people being able to afford fast food. I have a friend who used to work for the USDA. She told me that for a long time, they were giving fatty and starchy foods to Indian reservations, because it was cheaper than sending fruits and vegetables. Now the Indian population has a very large obesity problem and high rates of diabetes.

:dragon Millie

[Vicks]

ummm I guess my attitude on all of this is "education" is the solution as it is in my opinion to most of the dangers in our world.

I never say that food is "bad" becasue to me I can't and I also feel tho that the attitude in our society of "labeling foods good or bad" doesn't do a damm bit of good to anyone. I would rather see more nutrition programs in schools, like in health class. But I would like these programs, to not emphasize "good and bad" but to rather stress that GOING TO THE EXTREMES IS WHAT IS DANGEROUS.

I mean I grew up having pizza and taco bell in my cafeteria at school. I grew up in a household that had "no low fat fat free stuff in it" my home had oreos, and apples, a nice balance, and I had no food issues or problems than. I didnt' go to the extremes. I never saw food as "good or bad"

I get very scared of the governemnt, going on and on about "obesity" in our country. I agree, there are to many people who may be overweight, but you know what? There is also such a rise in eating disorders. I mean people odn't see the dangers of eating disorders at all. They think of them as "phases"

So, am I glad the goverment is looking into this stuff? In a way yes, but in a way no. Because all they focus on are food in the "good and bad" terms. They don't focus on "attutides" It isnt' a restaurants responsiblity to "alter" their menu in my opnion because people are unable to make decisions for themselves. I mean I avoid Subway, because of the calories on their napkins ect... a person can avoid McDonalds, if they don't see it has beneficial for them.

I just we really run into a danger by having the federal governemtn get invovled in something, that to me I don't want them invovled. I mean years and years ago, we knew nothing about food really, jno we know so much? How much has that knowledge helped us? I mean this? How has this knowledge really benefitted us.

As far as nutritional counseling being covered. FOr me it is covered if I am overweight. I called my insurance company told them my "history" said I jsut need to see someone "to make sure I gain a little and not lose any" they didn't understand, not at all. Even with a diagnosis of Anorexia I couldn't get it covered, but they said if I had "a weight problem, meaning needing to lose weight, they would cover it" double standard.

Victoria

[battgyrll]

Interestingly enough, one of our major projects for my Public Relations class is to come up with this PR campaign for a mythical restaurant that my professor invented. The restaurant is very healthy (that's the whole point) and although it is hard to explain it without going on forever, part of the research was an article from Time or something about fast food and portions sizes and calories, etc. SO it is really hard for me to do this, looking at calories and information when I am screaming inside about how they SHOULDN"T MATTER unless it is something you eat on a daily basis and you are morbidly obese becuase you just don't care. (but that is another soapbox for another time).

THis has reallt become an issue lately with a lot of people, I think it started with the smoker getting all the money from suing, people think they can get money from faast food places in the same ways.

I agree with Vicks on a lot of things, like education. No one forces a person to eat McDonalds Big Macs every day, and if they were informed about the calories and what those calories and cholesterol do to you, maybe they would make better choices. However, I personally don't see anything wrong with a person eating one once in a while to satisfy a craving or something.

I could go on forever about this, expecially since I am in a rambling mood, but to spare the rest of you, I won't do it.

:bat battgyrll :bat
Sara