Fad Diets

[Suter]

The March 8 issue of US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT   contains a one page report
entitled "Diet Book Authors Square Off", pg. 56  In their conclusion they
stated that "Of nearly 3,000 peoople in the National Weight Control
Registry, which lists people who lost 30 lbs. and kept it off for at least a
year, most followed a traditional low-calorie, low-fat diet.....And as one
of he presenters reminded the audience, 'Remember the pleasures of eating.'"

Carol Suter, M.S., R.D., L.D.
c-suter at tca.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Betsy Haughton" <haughton at utk.edu>
To: "Public Health Nutrition Discussion and Information Group"
<phnutr-l at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2000 6:39 AM
Subject: Fad Diets



> 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

>