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National Survey Reveals Major Increase in Number of People Dieting

New Survey Indicates Practical, No-Nonsense Approaches Prevail;
Controlling Carbohydrates as Important as Cutting Calories

ATLANTA (July 27, 2004) – Overweight Americans are listening -- and acting, in response to warnings about the health effects of obesity. The number of people on a diet has increased dramatically in the last few years. A new national survey indicates that one-third of adult Americans, or 71 million, are currently on a diet – an increase of 35 percent since 2000. This is the highest level of dieting in 15 years, according to the Calorie Control Council, which has been tracking dieting and weight control habits since 1984.

With the current low-carbohydrate food craze, many people may think cutting carbohydrates is the key to weight loss. However, according to the latest survey, dieters are cutting down on foods high in sugar or fat (96%) as the number one way to control weight. Other top methods of weight control among dieters are:

• Exercising (84%)
• Using low-calorie and reduced-fat foods and beverages (81%)
• Eating smaller portions of favorite foods (80%)
• Cutting down on foods high in carbohydrates (73%)
• Combining calorie reduction with exercise (72%)

While Americans are clearly influenced by the latest “low-carb” trend, almost as many are combining calorie reduction with exercise as a means of weight control. And, the vast majority (88%) of those dieters who are cutting back on carbohydrates agree or strongly agree that it is also important to reduce calories.

“Although carbohydrate content is a factor when it comes to weight control, this survey indicates that most dieters are not giving up on proven, no-nonsense approaches that can be maintained over the long-term,” notes Lyn Nabors, executive vice president of the Calorie Control Council.

“The good news is that most dieters seem to be trying to make lifestyle changes such as watching fat and calories, incorporating light foods as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, eating smaller portions and increasing their physical activity. Making such changes provides a greater chance of not only losing weight but also maintaining a healthier weight. The key of course is incorporating these sensible changes in your eating and exercise habits long-term,” added Nabors.

The low-carb craze has seen a definite increase over the past four years. In fact, almost 20 percent of dieters (or 14 million) are using weight loss diets such as Atkins, The Zone, South Beach and Sugar Busters, as opposed to just 11 percent in 2000. However, the survey found that cutting carbs may not be the best way to lose weight. Those dieters who are controlling carbohydrate content are much more likely to have made more than five dieting attempts over the past year. And, when it comes to weight maintenance over the long-term (greater than six months), carbs do not seem to be the magic bullet. In fact, there was little difference between people who were cutting carbs and those who were not in terms of the length of time they were able to maintain their weight loss.

The survey also shows that dieters do not believe carbohydrates are the reason for their failed weight loss attempts – only 21 percent of dieters blame carbohydrates. In contrast, 63 percent of dieters blame their metabolism when asked why they have not been successful at weight loss, followed by not exercising enough (59%), not having enough self-discipline (50%), splurging on favorite foods (49%) and snacking too much (42%).

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The 2004 survey findings are based on a nationally projectable sample of 1,200 Americans age 18 and older. The sample reliability is +/- 2.8 percent. The survey was completed in June by Booth Research Services, Inc., for the Calorie Control Council, a non-profit international association of manufacturers of low-calorie, reduced-fat and light foods and beverages.

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The Calorie Control Council, established in 1966, is an international non-profit association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry. Today it represents 60 manufacturers and suppliers of low-calorie, low-fat and light foods and beverages, including the manufacturers and suppliers of more than a dozen different dietary sweeteners, fat replacers and other low-calorie ingredients.

Copyright © 2004 Calorie Control Council

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