USA: Government panel releases obesity report

By Philip Fine | 17 March 2004

A US government panel responsible for outlining a plan for improving the country's weight problem released a final report with recommendations for both the food industry and consumers.

The Obesity Working Group says food labels should display calorie counts more prominently and use meaningful serving sizes.

The group stopped short of calling for restaurants to be forced to provide nutritional information, instead simply 'encouraging' the practice. It also recommended improved food label accuracy and a campaign to encourage calorie consciousness.

Last week, a US government study found obesity is poised to overtake smoking as America's leading preventable cause of death.

For the working group's report, click here.