(Washington, D.C.) – “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity” puts America on the right track to combat the extremely complex challenge of overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity in this country, the National Food Processors Association said in response to the report’s release.
“The Surgeon General’s ‘Call to Action’ moves beyond solutions of the past and boldly advocates a framework for communities to help individuals increase physical activity and embrace healthful lifestyles for a lifetime,” said NFPA senior director of nutrition policy Robert Earl, M.P.H., R.D.
“We agree with the Surgeon General that providing consumers a wide array of food choices promotes healthy eating,” Earl said. “The food industry consistently has been dedicated to producing safe, nutritious foods, providing nutrition information and supporting health education programs for the public.”
“The food industry has been quite responsive, creative and innovative in the development of new food products to meet a variety of consumer demands,” Earl said. “During the last two decades alone, the food industry has developed thousands of new food products designed to provide low- or no-calorie and low-, reduced- or non-fat options for the American consumer. These developments responded to national health goals and dietary guidance, and were designed to provide choice and to address consumer preferences.
“Equally clear is that energy expenditure through physical activity is just as important as food intake for health, fitness and prevention of chronic disease,” Earl said.
