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FALLS CHURCH, VA - June 29, 2004 -- In recent weeks and
months, media attention questioning the healthfulness of
low-carb diets has heated up, once again. Everything from
the low-carb diets to the new foods being introduced are
under the microscope of scrutiny. The war-of-words between
which approach and which foods are healthier - low-fat or
low-carb - has taken center stage again while consumers get
lost in the crossfire.
This isn't to say all the criticism is unfounded. "In some
instances, criticism of low-carb is well founded," said
Regina Schumann, COO of the Carbohydrate Awareness Council (CAC).
"Some of the new product introductions, touted as 'low-carb,'
do little more than replace old junk food with new junk
food. In an environment with no legal definition of 'low-carb',
consumers are confused. The CAC agrees with one recent
position taken by the newly formed Partnership for Essential
Nutrition: A high priority must be placed on advocating for
effective public policy to protect consumers from misleading
'low-carb' claims in food and beverage marketing."
Criticism of a low-carb dietary approach is not offering
solutions to tackle America's obesity epidemic, however.
"But that does not close the door of opportunity to enter
into a healthy dialogue about nutrition, health and
addressing the obesity epidemic," said Dr. Gil Wilshire, MD,
FACOG, President and Chief Scientific Officer of the CAC.
"In the United States, we are at a crisis level of obesity,
and diabetes continues to be diagnosed at alarming rates.
This is occurring despite more than 20 years of advocacy for
low-fat diets."
Joy Pape, RN, BSN, CDE, WOCN, who sits on the CAC's
Scientific Advisory Committee added, "We invite all
concerned parties to step forward so we may open up a
dialogue. The CAC is committed to making a difference and
helping to improve the health of our nation. Organizations
that are truly interested in our country’s health will
support and incorporate emerging evidence into
recommendations and practice. Surely they agree that no one
diet is appropriate for everyone."
Could two diametrically opposed approaches - reducing fat &
calories and low-carb - sit at the same table to begin a
dialogue and review the scientific evidence?
"We have to start somewhere," said Keith Berkowitz, MD, of
the Center for Balanced Health in New York City, "The
continued low fat, low-carb debate distracts from the common
mission each side is striving to achieve - that is, winning
the war against the pandemic spread of obesity and each of
its associated life-threatening conditions. Supporting the
patient and their nutritional choice will foster better
outcomes and lessen confusion for those who need to lose or
maintain weight and health. The research shows that weight
and health risks can be reduced with nutritional
intervention. Professionals need to be prepared to provide
individuals with options. No single dietary approach works
for everyone. Thus, making it is necessary to explore the
effectiveness of various approaches so clinicians can tailor
recommendations to the individual."
Part of the Mission of the CAC is to establish dialogue
amongst healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry
experts, within a context of high ethical and scientific
standards. In the coming months, the CAC will schedule a
series of round-table discussions, which includes all
approaches, to evaluate the scientific evidence objectively.
Interested parties and organizations are encouraged to
contact the CAC for more information so that energies may be
focused where they belong: on improving the health of
America through scientifically effective approaches.
Dr. Wilshire added, "As an organization, we're hoping to
start the process of looking at all effective nutritional
approaches so the medical community can utilize effective
tools to affect change for the health of the nation, thus
avoiding a political battle that overlooks the help
professionals are committed to providing to the community."
Those individuals and organizations who would like to
participate may contact the CAC via email at
info@carbaware.org
or visit the website for additional contact information at
http://www.carbaware.org
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