Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

In a continuing effort to make its products healthier, Campbell Soup has announced that it will reduce the sodium in its line of SpaghettiOs brand by up to 35 percent. This is second major sodium reduction in two years.

"Each one-cup serving of the new, lower sodium Campbells SpaghettiOs varieties will contain at least five essential nutria, for example, Vitamin A, fiber, calcium, iron or folic acid," BusinessWire reported. "To meet the FDA and USDA criteria for a healthy main dish, each one-cup serving will be low in fat, low in saturated fat; contain 90mg cholesterol or less, 600mg sodium or less, and provide a significant level of at least two positive nutrients."

The lower-sodium varieties will begin appearing on shelves in April, and will include varieties such as SpaghettiOs Disney Princesses that are marketed directly at kids.

Labels: food_companies

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Dr. David Kessler believes that the food industry is manipulating the American public in ways that are similar to the tobacco industry. He believes that they promote foods that are high in salt, sugar and fat -- a deadly combination that does not satisfy the appetite, but actually stimulates hunger.

Dr. Kessler has degrees in medicine and law, and has served as dean of the Yale University School of Medicine as well as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where he was known for taking a tough stand on tobacco companies. Today, he is the author of a new book, "The End of Overeating."

"I used to think I ate to feel full," said Dr. Kessler, who admitted to having his own weight-related struggles. "Now we have the science that shows were eating to stimulate ourselves."

Dr. Kessler said he believes that foods that are high in salt, fat, and sugar actually alter brain chemistry in the same ways that addictive drugs do. The sight or thought of such foods can stimulate dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain. For this reason, you can crave these foods when you pass a restaurant or see a food advertisement on television even if you are not hungry.

Dr. Kessler says that food deprivation only heightens the way the brain views food, which is why most diets do not work.

"How do we explain to America what is going on?" he asked. "How do we break through and help people understand how their brains have been captured?"

Labels: overweight, overeating, food_companies

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A recent public opinion survey by the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) found that 82 percent of Americans think food companies aren't doing enough to help combat obesity. Though a staggering number of food companies say they're reformulating products to make them healthier, consumers are looking for more.

"US based companies are complying with government initiatives in Europe that curb junk food advertising to kids, limit fat and salt content in processed foods, and call for nutrition information on the front of food packages, but are opposing such steps in the US..."

The survey also found that Americans still think there is too much advertising of junk food to children and that the government should get more involved in combating childhood obesity. Source: FoodNavigator.com.

Labels: food_companies, advertising, junk_food

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A government task force that has focused on food marketing to children is releasing a report on September 19th in which it's expected to acknowledge the advertising self-regulation that's taking place at the nation's largest food companies.

"The actions they've already announced are expected to be a big part of the report: Set nutritional guidelines for the foods they will market to kids under 12 in shows targeted to children. Some have also agreed to limit or end host selling of snack or fatty foods by familiar TV characters, and encourage exercise and healthy diet both through programs in the community and storylines in shows."

The Food and Beverage Industry, by imposing its own regulations, is hoping to avoid government imposed regulations like the ones in Britain that ban all snack ads in and around children's television shows.

Youth Care's programs for troubled teens are set in a therapeutic boarding school environment that offers structure, therapy, and academics.

Labels: food_companies, marketing, adolescence

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Last year, the Council of Better Business Bureau's Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative was created as a means of self-regulation for the Food and Beverage Industry and its advertising to children. Today, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Edward Markey submitted letters to five leading food companies which are not currently part of the Initiative.

"'I am writing to you to ascertain whether your company will join the CBBB initiative and commit to implementing marketing restrictions that meet or exceed those of the other companies that have made pledges, and if so, your timeline for doing so,' wrote Chairman Markey on Wednesday."

Participants in the initiative adopted certain nutrition standards that determine which foods and beverages will and will not be marketed to young children. There are currently 12 companies involved, include Coca-Cola, Hershey, and Kellogg. Among those not involved are Nestle, Dannon, and ConAgra.

Copper Canyon Academy, struggling girls boarding schools, offer programs to help teenage girls deal with their emotions and behaviors while getting caught up academically.

Labels: food_companies, advertising, marketing

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