Date: 2/25/2004

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. to Launch National Childhood & Adolescent Obesity Initiative

Atkins Physicians Council Joins Call for Funding New York State's Childhood Obesity Prevention Program

NEW YORK, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. (ANI) announced today its plans to develop and support a national childhood obesity initiative to combat what is arguably our nation's most critical public health problem. Nationwide, approximately 30% of children (ages 6-19) are overweight and 15 percent are obese. "If this problem is not addressed urgently by lawmakers, educators, parents and health professionals the current epidemic will result in a future generation of Americans who will for the first time in our history have a shorter life span than the previous generation," explained Dr. Stuart Trager, Chairman of the Atkins Physician Council.


"We applaud the work advocates, schools, researchers and politicians are doing to prevent childhood obesity and improve the lives and future health of our young people," said Trager. "ANI is committed to supporting innovative childhood obesity programs that are based on the latest scientific research in the areas of medicine, nutrition and exercise."

The ANI youth obesity initiative will work with educators, advocates, health professionals and parents to:

* Encourage at least an hour of physical activity on a daily basis;
* Limit sedentary activities like watching TV, working on the computer
and playing video games;
* Serve appropriate portions of natural, whole foods;
* Strictly limit children's intake of processed foods, sugars and trans
fats;
* Support evidence-based research that examines best approaches to weight
loss and management;
* Reconsider and revise the current USDA Food Pyramid to reflect new
science; and
* Develop public and private alliances that disseminate and reinforce
sound nutritional and diet policies that impact our youth.

As a first step, Dr. Stephen Sondike, Director of the Nutrition, Exercise and Weight Management (NEW) Kids Program at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and member of the Atkins Physician Council, joined with representatives from the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and the New York State Dietetic Association in Albany (NY) to lend support for State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz's Childhood Obesity Prevention Program. At a press conference yesterday, Dr. Sondike stressed the need to apply scientifically sound solutions along with innovative school- and community- based programs to reverse the affects of child and adolescent obesity.

"As health professionals, we need to focus on all emerging research to solve this public health crisis. For many years it was believed that the best approach to treating overweight and obesity included a diet that restricts calories and/or fatty foods," said Sondike. "But research, published in influential pediatric journals including The Journal of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, and Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, shows us that controlled carbohydrate diets, which emphasize the consumption of high protein foods that often taste better and are more satisfying, have better success at reducing weight and maintaining healthy weight."

"From the classroom to the kitchen table, young people can be encouraged to eat right and exercise more so they can effectively reverse the trend of childhood obesity and its devastating health consequences. We intend to make use of our expertise to work with parents, policy makers, educators and physicians to develop programs that promote a healthy and active lifestyle for our youth," concluded Sondike.

Source: http://www.npicenter.com/index.asp?...DocumentID=5675

BRATKINS DIET

By AMIT SRIVASTAVA
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February 25, 2004 -- Call it Atkins Jr.
The company - accused by critics of promoting an unhealthy low-carb, high-fat diet that may cause heart disease in adults - is now targeting your kid.

The firm has issued its own plan to combat America's child obesity crisis: less TV, less processed foods, exercising for at least an hour a day - and cutting carbs like sugars, grains, fruits and some vegetables.

"We're not suggesting that every kid should be put on a controlled carb diet - but it may be appropriate for some," said Henry Engleka, spokesman for Atkins Nutritionals Inc. "New science suggests carb awareness may be as effective for some kids as lowering fats or counting calories."

The company has announced its seven-point plan for child obesity to support state Assemblyman Felix Ortiz's childhood obesity prevention program.

It controversially suggests it will work with educators and health professionals to change the carb-based "food pyramid," taught to generations of American kids as a way to promote good diet. The pyramid is backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"We have issued a changed food pyramid for adults - it may be that we need to release a changed food pyramid for kids," Engleka said.

The Atkins pyramid is famously based on eating lots of protein, such as meat and fish.

However, diet experts have reacted with alarm at the idea that kids might benefit from an adult-style Atkins diet.

"People are in trouble not because they are eating the [traditional food] pyramid but because they are not," Dr. Keith Ayoob, spokesman for the American Dietetic Association and associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx.

"Many high-protein foods are also high in saturated fats. If the diet involves more saturated fat for kids, I have serious concerns."

There has been growing concern about the epidemic of child obesity. Nationwide, approximately 30 percent of children - ages 6-19 - are overweight and 15 percent are obese.

Ayoob accused the Atkins company of "jumping on the bandwagon" of Ortiz's legislation to combat the problem. He said parents who adopted the Atkins regime would be ignoring diets with proven health benefits.

"High-carb diets have stood the test of time," he said, though he added it was vital to eat the right sorts of carbs. "There is a mountain of evidence encouraging kids to eat more fruit, vegetables and whole-grain foods."

Source: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/18961.htm

I wish them luck. There is so much marketinig aimed at children that I'm sure businesses like soda, chips, and cookie manufacturers will scream when their junk-food machines are asked to be either taken out entirely or stocked with more nutritional food.

It really is about going back to simple basics. You know with all the "low carb" marketed food out there, it's still better and simpler to just stick with natural whole foods for the most part.

That is not to say that I'm not interested in convenience... I try a lot of different things to see what I like and what I don't, but over all the best stuff is still plain and simple whole food.

"High-carb diets have stood the test of time," he said.

Yes, look what the obesity and diabetes rates are now.