The Missions and Principles of CaloriesCount.com are consistent with the prevailing scientific opinion of national health/medical organizations as well as the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management.

Mission

• To promote sound guidance to the general public (age 18 and over) on strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

Principles

• Following sensible and healthy guidelines for eating and physical activity is important for healthy weight management.
• Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that is known to reduce life span, increase disability and lead to many serious illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
• Excess weight is caused by an interaction of genetic (inherited) and environmental (social and cultural) factors, which include metabolic (physical and chemical) and behavioral (psychological and emotional) components. Because of the complexity of weight loss, gain, and maintenance, promises of quick and effortless weight loss are useless.
• A sedentary lifestyle is a significant barrier to successfully maintaining weight loss and preventing further weight gain.
• Losing weight requires burning more calories than the body takes in, by either reducing caloric intake or increasing caloric expenditure, or preferably, both.
• Achieving and maintaining even a modest amount of weight loss can reduce the severity of illnesses associated with obesity.
• Effective weight management involves behavior modification which is a lifelong commitment and includes at least two components:
  

  • healthful eating in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing a reduction in total calories, a lowered fat consumption, and an increase in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and
    

  • increased frequent and regular physical activity of at least moderate intensity.

• Medical, pharmacological and surgical interventions may be options for individuals with more serious cases of overweight and obesity. These interventions, used in conjunction with a diet plan for healthy eating and physical activity, should be utilized in conformance with applicable treatment guidelines.
• The consumer is entitled to accurate, reliable, and non-deceptive information about methods for weight management.
• Discrimination, including discrimination based upon size or weight, is not acceptable and is vehemently opposed.
• There will not be any endorsements of any particular product or program for weight loss or weight management.
  

"Healthy weight" is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 19 and less than 25 among all people aged 20 or over. To determine body mass index, divide weight in kilograms (2.2 lbs. = 1 kg) by height in meters squared (39.4 ins. = 1 m). For the purposes of this document, "obesity" is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30, which approximates 30 pounds or more of excess weight. Excess weight also places people at risk of developing serious health problems.

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