How To Deal With Obesity In Canada: Does Dieting Work?
Health Professionals explore the "great diet debate" at 2003 Kellogg Nutrition Symposium, part of the Dietitians of Canada Annual Conference

Held in conjunction with the Dietitians of Canada Annual Conference, more than 700 registered dietitians and other health professionals attended the 17^th annual Kellogg Nutrition Symposium: The Great Diet Debate – A New Perspective. Featuring well-known experts in the fields of diet, nutrition, and weight management, the symposium provided a forum for discussion on issues related to dieting in Canada and the best ways to manage the growing prevalence of obesity.

"It’s a compelling topic and one of great concern given the increasing obesity rates in Canada and the proliferation of mixed dieting messages in the marketplace," said Christine Lowry, Registered Dietitian and Vice President, Corporate and Nutrition Affairs, Kellogg Canada. "With almost half of Canadians overweight, it is important that we all understand how the proper mix of food intake, exercise and attitudes can encourage successful weight loss and management."

In Canada:

• 64.1% of adult females and 35.9% of adult males were on a diet in Canada in 2001. (Source: NPD Group Canada Inc: National Eating Trends Canada, March 2002)
• Women are more likely than men (40% women vs. 23% men) to attempt to lose weight, even though they already have a healthy weight. (Source: Health Canada: Toward a Healthy Future - Second Report on the Health of Canadians, Sept. 1999)
• 2.8 million Canadians, aged 20 to 64, were considered obese in 2000-01, up from more than 500,000 in 1994-95. (Statistics Canada, 2002)
• More than 50% of Canadians are overweight and at risk for diabetes, heart attack, asthma and cancer and that figure could reach 80% by 2015. (Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2001)
• 55% of Canadians are considered physically inactive and at least 57% of Canadian adults are considered insufficiently active for optimal health benefits. (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 2003)
• Body weight and concerns about body weight result in considerable physical, psychosocial and economic costs in the Canadian population. (Canadian Guidelines for Body Weight Classification in Adults, Health Canada, 2003)

Scientific presentations at this year’s Kellogg Nutrition Symposium included:

• Anne Fletcher, MS, RD, and author of Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People Who have Lost Weight and Kept it Off
  Who better to help others lose weight than people who have been successful themselves? Ms. Fletcher outlined the common threads among weight-loss "masters", men and women who lost an average of 60-some pounds and who have maintained their losses for an average of 11 years.

• Eileen T. Kennedy, DSc, International Life Sciences Institute,
  Washington, D.C.
  With the proliferation of diet books on the market, more and more Canadians are trying to lose weight using whatever diet is popular at the moment. Dr. Kennedy presented scientific evidence exploring whether there is in fact an optimal diet or pattern of eating for weight loss and weight management.

The 2003 KNS also features:

• Mary Bush, RD, MSc, Health Canada
  Is Designing the Optimal "Diet" the Real Issue?
• Dr. Barry Simon, MD, University of Toronto
  The Psycho-Social Aspect of Dieting
• Susan Barr, PhD, RDN, FDC, FACSM, University of British Columbia
  Overview of Canadian Dietitians’ Attitudes and Practices Regarding Obesity and Weight Management

A forum for registered dietitians, other health professionals and researchers from across North America, the Kellogg Nutrition Symposium offers up-to-date information on nutrition research and health trends. This year, Kellogg celebrated its 17^th Kellogg Nutrition Symposium. Since 1999, the symposium has been held in partnership with Dietitians of Canada as part of their annual conference.

Kellogg Canada is the leading manufacturer of ready-to-eat cereal in Canada. Kellogg Canada is committed to educating consumers about nutrition through responsible packaging, brochures, advertising and symposia developed with the scientific and medical communities.

For more information, please contact:
Lores Tomé
Manager, Corporate Communications
Kellogg Canada Inc., 416-675-5237

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