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Partnership
Principles
The Partnership subscribes to the
following 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 worthless.
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
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. The Partnership encourages
weight loss providers to adopt the
Partnerships Voluntary Disclosure
Guidelines for Providers of Weight Loss
Products and Programs.
The Partnership opposes
discrimination, including discrimination
based upon size or weight.
- The Partnership does not endorse any
particular product or program for weight
loss or weight management.
Definitions
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). See the table for quick conversion
from height and weight to BMI.
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 of
excess weight. Excess weight also places people
at risk of developing serious health problems.
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