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USDA New Food Guidance System a “Balancing Act”

Calorie Control Council Supports Message of Balancing Calorie Intake and Physical Activity

The new Food Guidance System from the U.S. Department of Agriculture focuses on balancing the foods people eat with physical activity, a message the Calorie Control Council supports. “In a nutshell, these recommendations boil down to the fact that calories count – both in what you eat and in being physically active and burning calories. In essence, it’s a balancing act,” notes Beth Hubrich, a dietitian and Associate Director of the Council.

Health professionals agree that making small changes in caloric intake and expenditure can help people manage their weight. This new food guidance system is another small step in helping to relay that information to consumers. Combined with the new 2005 Dietary Guidelines and the Food & Drug Administration’s umbrella campaign, “Calories Count,” adults will be able take away clear, consistent messages about obtaining and maintaining a healthier weight and overall healthy lifestyle through simple steps.

“In his speech, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns noted that efforts from parents, teachers, organizations, the food industry and more are needed to help relay the messages from the new food guidance system. Fortunately, the Council already has several initiatives underway to support the messages of the USDA and other government organizations,” said Hubrich.

Just as the USDA has released a new web site, (www.mypyramid.gov) to help people get in step with the guidelines and recommendations, similarly the Council launched CaloriesCount.com (www.caloriescount.com), an online healthy living and weight loss toolkit. The non-commercial site features the tools and information consumers need to not only lose weight, but also keep it off.

The Council also has a free, award-winning Web site (which was launched in 1997) with practical information and tips for cutting calories in food and leading a healthier lifestyle. The site – www.caloriecontrol.org — boasts several calculators (including a healthy weight calculator, a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator, exercise calculator, calorie counter, etc.) as well as information on how to cut calories in a sensible manner. The site also contains the Council’s downloadable brochure, “Winning by Losing” – which emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and strategies to help consumers lose weight if needed.

The Council will continue to look for various avenues to promote messages and support USDA, HHS and FDA in educating consumers about sensible weight control through balancing calories and physical activity. For more information, visit http://www.caloriecontrol.org.

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