Obesity Conundrum -- Seeking a Food Solution; Scientific Summit Concludes in New Orleans

2/17/2004

From: Jim Klapthor of the Institute of Food Technologists, 312-782-8424 ext. 231 or jnklapthor@ift.org

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 17 -- In order to combat obesity in the American lifestyle, additional intensive short- and long-term research on the influences affecting food consumption and physical activity is needed, according to leading experts in the fields of food science, public health, and nutrition gathered here by the not-for-profit international scientific society Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

The three-day scientific summit, "The Obesity Conundrum -- Is There a Food Solution?" concluded today with an exhaustive list of preliminary recommendations for research necessary to solve the growing problem of being overweight or obese. Experts from government, academia, industry and medical disciplines weighed-in on the discussions to reach consensus for developing data to drive a solution to this disease epidemic.

Preliminary research recommendations include, but are not limited to, the following:

-- Predictive biomarkers for identifying risks for obesity.

-- Real-life studies on people's motivations to choose foods, and their motivations to begin and cease eating.

-- Preventive measures to enhance proper weight management and combat obesity.

-- The study of positive and negative behavioral messaging for different populations like children.

-- Technological advancements for measuring personal caloric and nutritive intake and physical exertion.

-- Short- and long-term studies of influences on lifestyle that lead to healthy and unhealthy weight.

-- Factors on pre-natal, infant and childhood nutrition.

One-point-one billion people worldwide are overweight; 300 million are obese, and 130 million of those are in the United States.

Obesity has been linked to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and other debilitating health problems.

IFT will issue in Spring a final report on the identified research gaps that, when filled with sound scientific data as recommended, can be expected to led to successful methods of managing obesity, and reduce the occurrence of obesity and its related acute and chronic diseases.

Founded in 1939, and with world headquarters in Chicago, Ill., USA, the Institute of Food Technologists is a not-for-profit international scientific society with 28,000 members working in food science, technology and related professions within industry, academic and government. As the society for food science and technology, IFT brings sound science to the public discussion of food issues. For more on IFT, see http://www.ift.org.