Fad Diets

[Barbara Pryor]

Glad to see you're involved in the panel.  I caught some of the USDA webcast and was very confusing.  I don't think USDA did anyone a service with the event, other than allow the authors a free forum to promote their books.  


>>> Betsy Haughton <haughton at utk.edu> 03/02 7:39 AM >>>

The following was forwarded to me by a colleague following the USDA
web-cast on the Great Nutrition Debate.  FYI.
*****

 Subject: 
        SUA! Combat Consumer Confusion about Fad Diets
   Date: 
        Tue, 29 Feb 2000 09:25:48 -0600
   From: 
        "Catherine C. Welch" <welch012 at maroon.tc.umn.edu>
     To: 
        NAASO-L at TC.UMN.EDU 



------------ Forwarded Message begins here ------------
From: Barbara Moore <barbara.moore at worldnet.att.net>
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 22:34:04 -0500
To: naaso-l at tc.umn.edu,
Subject: SUA! Combat Consumer Confusion about Fad Diets

Dear colleagues:
Perhaps the media coverage of the USDA Great Nutrition Debate last
Thursday was heavier in the Washington DC area than elsewhere in the
country, but it appears to have been very highly publicized.  Much of
the commentary expressed confusion about whether protein is bad or
carbohydrates are bad.  Commentators weren't sure who "won" the debate. 
Some of the internet coverage I have seen treats Atkins as entirely
legitimate now that he has been a guest of the USDA.
    In the attached, Shape Up America! is announcing an initiative to
address the consumer confusion surrounding fad diets and other attacks
on the Food Guide Pyramid such as the recent attacks by PCRM.  I hope
you will look at the attached proposal and will help me identify
organizations to sponsor this initiative.  The proposal is brief (one
page) and is followed by a registration form.  Through your many
contacts, I am hoping you will help me reach as many corporate,
commodity, academic and other interest groups as possible.  We need
sponsors to participate in this effort.  FYI --I have discussed it with
Rajen Anand at USDA and Van Hubbard at NIH.  They have asked me to
forward a copy to them as well, at least for discussion purposes. If you
can assist by forwarding this information to appropriate organizations,
or be providing me with contact information, I would be very
appreciative.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D.
Shape Up America!

--------------------------------------------------
Combating Consumer Confusion About Fad Diets
A Shape Up America! Initiative Generated by
the USDA Great Nutrition Debate

On February 24, 2000, the USDA hosted "The Great Nutrition Debate" among
authors of popular diet books that for better or worse have taken the
country by storm.  Each of these diets embraces some portions of the
Food Guide Pyramid and rejects others.  None of these extremely popular
diet books embraces the entire Food Guide Pyramid.   Representing the
top half of the Food Guide Pyramid was Robert Atkins (the Dr. Atkins'
New Diet Revolution), Morrison Bethea (Sugarbusters) and Barry Sears
(The Zone).  Representing the bottom half of the Pyramid was Dean Ornish
(Eat More, Weigh Less) and John McDougall (Dr. McDougall's Right
Foods).  The debate itself and the extensive media coverage that
followed left many consumers more confused than ever. They ask:  Are
meat and dairy bad or good?  Are carbohydrates bad or good?

Shape Up America! is assembling a coalition of organizations from all
interested sectors - academia, private, for-profit, not-for-profit, and
government --  that are interested in participating in an initiative
that will advocate for the entire Food Guide Pyramid and that will point
to a responsible approach to dietary management that emphasizes portion
control and increased physical activity.

The objectives we set for ourselves will depend on the extent to which
we can garner support but our mission is to set the record straight
about fad diets - focusing on both efficacy and safety.  Each
participating organization will contribute $10,000 toward this
initiative.  The money will be used to research and develop the text on
reproducible masters including illustrations for use in various media -
traditional print as well as the world wide web.  We will rely on the
scientific advisory committee of Shape Up America! (see attached) as
well as selected experts and scientists from participating organizations
to help us develop the text and to answer frequently asked questions on
the minds of consumers who are confused about these fad diets. 
Consumers need to know why some of these diets are unbalanced and are
dangerous if used long term.  The information will be mounted on the
Shape Up America! website along with links to the websites of each
participating organization.  A press event sponsored by Shape Up
America! and involving as many organizations as choose to participate
will announce the availability of this timely information.  Coordinating
public relations activities of each participating organization will be
encouraged and will be welcome.

We plan to have this initiative largely completed by the launch of the
Nutrition Summit at the end of May.   To adhere to this aggressive
timeline, we must have funding in place by March 10.  We urgently seek
your immediate response on the attached form.



COMBATING CONSUMER CONFUSION ABOUT FAD DIETS
A Shape Up America! Initiative Generated by
the USDA Great Nutrition Debate

[PLEASE FAX THIS FORM TO SHAPE UP AMERICA! 301-493-9504]

Organization Name:____________________________________

YES  -- We want to participate and our check will be sent under separate
cover

YES --  We want to participate and we need you to send us an invoice

No  --   We are unable to participate

For organizations choosing to participate, please fill out the following
information for the contact designated by your organization for all
conference c alls and meetings and for review of text:

Name_________________________________________________

Mailing Address:________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Address for Fed Ex purposes: ______________________________

______________________________________________________

Phone:________________________________________________

Fax:__________________________________________________

Email:________________________________________________

Organization's Website:__________________________________

Should you have any questions about registration and payment, please
contact Ms. Shannon Falli at 301-493-5368 (phone) or sfalli at shapeup.org 
(email). For all other questions, please contact Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D.
301-493-5368 (Phone);  301-493-9504 (Fax);  
barbara.moore at worldnet.att.net (email); or mail to Shape Up America!
6707 Democracy Blvd.  Suite 306 Bethesda, MD  20817



Shape Up America!
Scientific Advisory Committee

George L. Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA

Steven Blair, P.E.D.
Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research
Dallas, TX

William Castelli, M.D.
Framingham Cardiovascular Institute
Framingham, MA

Patricia S. Choban, M.D.
Bariatric Specialists of Ohio
Grove City, OH

Adam Drewnowski, Ph.D.
University of Washington
Nutritional Sciences
Seattle, WA

Johanna Dwyer, D.Sc., R.D.
Frances Stern Nutrition Center
New England Medical Center
Boston, MA

Joyce Harp, M.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Department of Nutrition
Chapel Hill, NC

Bess Marcus, Ph.D.
The Miriam Hospital
Providence, RI

Rebecca Mullis, Ph.D., R.D.
Department of Foods & Nutrition
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA


Michael Pratt, M.D., M.P.H.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, GA

James Rippe, M.D.
The Center for Clinical and Lifestyle Research
Shrewsbury, MA

Judith S. Stern, Sc.D., R.D.
Department of Nutrition
University of California at Davis
Davis, CA

Thomas Wadden, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA


Executive Staff:

Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D.
Shape Up America!
Bethesda, MD

Ida Laquatra, Ph.D., R.D.
Pittsburgh, PA

Carol Morton, M.S.
West Islip, NY
-- 
Betsy Haughton, EdD, RD, LDN
Associate Professor
Director, Public Health Nutrition
Department of Nutrition
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-1900
Tele:  423/974-6267
FAX:  423/974-3491