It’s a well-known fact that poor diet and nutrition are major contributory risk factors for ill health.
Obesity is a significant health problem due to its association with serious chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and hyperlipidaemia (high levels of fats in the blood that can lead to narrowing and blockages of blood vessels), which are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular related mortality.
Obesity is also associated with cancer, disability, reduced quality of life, and can lead to premature death.
Therefore every New Year brings a host a weight-loss resolutions for people worldwide – this year is no different. According to a recent US survey by the Calorie Control Council (CCC), 185 million Americans have been ‘weight conscious’ during the past year, and 54% say they are achieving their goals by exercise, cutting back on sugar by using low-calorie or reduced-sugar products, and restricting portion sizes.
The Council predicts the following five trends when it comes to dieting, weight loss and physical activity in 2012:
‘With life busier and more stressful than ever, rather than making a complete overhaul, people will be looking for small steps they can take to be healthier’, said Beth Hubrich, a registered dietitian and executive director of the CCC. ‘Simple lifestyle changes such as increasing fruit and veggies by one serving per day, cutting out 50-150 calories per day by eating fewer bites of a sandwich, choosing a diet soda or low-cal beverage in place of the regular versions, and exercising 10 minutes here or there, can make a big difference in 2012 and hopefully for life.’
Across the pond in the UK, according to the Family Food report published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) some key findings were:
A growing number of consumers are turning to meat-free food and other products that have certain allergens, such as gluten or lactose, removed from their ingredients.
Although only 6% of the UK’s population consider themselves vegetarian and only 1-2% are estimated to have food allergies, the meat-free and free-from food market is expected to grow 44% to around £1.25bn by 2016, according to study by Mintel.
This growth is being driven by an increased appetite for both meat-free and free-from products by people who eat all types of food, not just vegetarians or consumers with food allergies. More than half of the consumers questioned (55%) say they sometimes choose meat-free foods for variety, and 51% make a meal from them because they look appealing.
Mintel’s head of UK food, drink and food service research Kiti Soininen concludes: ‘The meat-free and free-from food market has far from reached its full potential. Although price, perceptions of taste and the absence of recognisable brands are still holding it back, these are not insurmountable issues.’
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