OTC: Specialists in Obesity

We Can Change Our Stripes!!

From: John Hernried, M.D.

Amidst the generally discouraging news of the obesity epidemic, there is some positive news on the battlefront. I was pleased to see an article from England on the changing choices being made in response to public health messages. In response to messages about the obesity risk, 2/3rd of the adult population is making smarter choices and exercising more.

The article, Fears of obesity epidemic bite into sales of chocolate and crisps, tells that people are choosing less caloric and energy dense food choices. For the first time, this appears to be a response to public health messages and NOT what the food industry is marketing. For instance, the sale of energy dense chocolate candy is being replaced by less energy dense chocolate crisps. While this does not seem like much of a change, if a person is satisfied with the same portion, they will consume fewer calories. In combination with many other small changes, it begins to add up. According to the article:

We're buying more ...
* Mineral water, fruit juices and smoothies
* Probiotic drinks that help your stomach
* Lighter crisps with less saturated fat
* Smaller chocolate bars like Cadbury Flake
* Crackers and cereal bars
* Premium dark and organic chocolate, such as Lindt and Green & Black
* Low cholesterol spreads such as Flora
* Rice and fresh and dry pasta
* Malt loaf, which has a healthy image
* Wine from big name brands from Australia and California

We're buying less...
* Calorific chocolate bars like Mars and Snickers
* Sugary sweets such as Polo and Maynards
* Ordinary fatty crisps. Pringles are down eight per cent
* Traditional chocolate biscuits such as Penguin
* Sugary orange drink Sunny D
* Fatty biscuits Viennese whirls, lemon slices and Battenburgs
* Tinned vegetables and fruit
* Frozen ready meals, particularly frozen pizza
* Fizzy drinks popular with children
* Ready to drink cocktails such as Smirnoff Ice

I am encouraged by this change and hope that Americans are also making these changes. The US government periodically surveys the population and we will know better. However, I personally have made many of these changes and have seen many of my friends automatically switch because of the public health messages about the obesity epidemic.

While it is too early to predict victory in the war on obesity, it is encouraging to know that big messages can lead to significant changes. Down the line, I am encouraged that it will lead to a healthier society.

This is one Christmas wish already given to me!

Another Place To Eat

From: Maureen Allen, M.P.H.

      

In the 1970s I used to go to concerts at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.  The air was so thick with pot and cigarette smoke you could cut it with a knife. Thirty years later people are still inhaling at concerts. But now its garlic fries, nachos and sausage sandwiches to name a few.

At one point during the Bruce Springsteen concert at Arco I asked my husband if people realized they were at a live show as opposed to a TV show where you run to the refrigerator during commercials. The steady stream of traffic up and down the aisle with cardboard trays loaded with concert food looked more like a freeway during rush hour.

Going to the movies is like this too. Although butter saturated movie popcorn was never “healthy” it looks like Lean Cuisine when compared to rotisseries full of hotdogs, big ice-cream, big candy and big sodas.

This availability and promotion of food at events that have nothing to do with food has created anxiety in people trying to lose or maintain their weight .What happened to going to the movies to divert your attention away from food? Besides choosing a movie, now we have to worry about the side dishes.

I don’t blame promoters for selling the stuff, but it seems they’ve made everything bigger but the seats.