FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             CONTACT:    Curt Mercadante

November 24, 2003                                                                                           202-331-1634

New Food Consumption Study Highlights Importance of Physical Activity

In Combating Rising Rates of Overweight and Obesity

WASHINGTON, DC – A new study released today by the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy (CFNP) at Virginia Tech University reveals key data about the dramatic effects of Americans’ sedentary behavior on this country’s rising obesity rates.  CFNP reports that the study “points out that age, race, gender, and family income are statistically significant predictors of body mass (BMI) in adolescents.  Additionally, it was found that television viewing was positively associated with BMI, while participation in sports demonstrated a negative association. While diet, in this study, has little or no predicative value for BMI, sedentariness does matter.”

The peer-reviewed study, “Demographic and lifestyle factors associated with body mass index among children and adolescents,” is published in the current issue of the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition (54:6 pp 491-503). 

The Corn Refiners Association (CRA), which represents American companies that produce a variety of corn-based food products and ingredients, issued the following statement today regarding the CFNP study:

“This study reinforces what experts already have been telling us:  Americans aren’t getting enough daily physical activity to burn off the calories they consume each day.

"According to the American Dietetic Association, ‘Excess body fat (obesity) arises from the energy imbalance caused by taking in too much energy and using too little ... Obesity is a complex problem and its cause cannot be simply attributed to any one component of the food supply.[1]’

“While some food industry critics have chosen to engage in a ‘good food/bad food’ debate, the CFNP study takes a hard, rational look at the data to provide some alarming news about the correlation between Americans’ sedentary lifestyles and the growing rates of overweight and obesity in this country. 

“Perhaps this data should come as no surprise, given what we already know about our country’s major decline in physical activity.  According to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, nearly half (4 in 10) of all American adults engage in no daily physical activity.  Only about one-half of U.S. young people (ages 12-21 years) regularly participate in vigorous physical activity, and one-fourth reported no vigorous physical activity at all.  On the flip side, one-quarter of U.S. children spend 4 hours or more watching television daily.

“These findings are proof positive that successful strategies to combat obesity should include an increased focus on achieving a balance between fitness and nutrition, rather than targeting specific food products.  The best way for Americans to achieve healthy lifestyles is to substantially increase physical activity while enjoying balanced diets and moderate consumption of all foods and beverages.”

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