FDA Obesity Working Group

1
FDA Obesity Working Group

• Presentation to
• FDA Science Board
• April 22, 2004
• Alan M. Rulis

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Facilitator forNational Dialogue on Obesity
Recommendation from OWG Report

• The report recommends that FDA work through a
  facilitator to provide a forum for stakeholders
  to seek consensus-based approaches that address
  two specific aspects of obesity in the United
  States
• 1) developing options for providing voluntary
  nutrition information for foods consumed away
  from home, e.g., in a restaurant setting, and
• 2) education to combat pediatric obesity.

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Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

• What nutrition information will be most helpful
  for consumers to have before ordering food in a
  restaurant?

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Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

• What are the best options for providing nutrition
  information in a restaurant setting?

5
Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

• Should nutrition information be listed for all
  menu items or just some items?
• If for just some, what criteria should determine
  which items have nutrition information listed?

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Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

1. When providing nutrition information in the
   restaurant setting, what consideration should be
   given to the differences between chain and
   non-chain restaurants?

7
Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

• How should restaurants tailor the kinds of
  nutrition information presented based on expected
  clientele?

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Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

1. Should nutrition information be presented in
   context (e.g., as percent of daily value,
   comparison to 2,000 calorie/day diet, comparison
   to other menu items)?

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Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

1. How should FDA proceed to encourage restaurants
   to participate in a voluntary pilot program to
   test various options?

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Foods Eaten Away from HomeProposed Scope of Work
for Facilitator

• How can industry/FDA measure the effectiveness of
  providing nutrition information to consumers in
  restaurants?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

• On what age groups is it most appropriate for FDA
  to focus education efforts?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

1. What are the most appropriate settings (e.g.,
   school, home, health care settings, social
   organizations/clubs) for educational efforts?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

• How important is it for education efforts to be
  conducted using mass media (television, radio,
  print)?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

• Over what time period should an education effort
  be extended to achieve optimal impact and lasting
  effects?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

1. What types of messages are most effective, and in
   which age groups, for educating children about
   nutrition and health?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

• To what extent should education and/or other
  types of messages be tailored to different
  ethnic and/or socio-economic groups?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

• What are effective means for partnering in the
  public and private sectors to develop and deliver
  obesity education?

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Pediatric Nutrition/Obesity EducationProposed
Scope of Work for Facilitator

• What are examples of effective partnering
  currently operating, and can they provide a
  foundation for future progress?

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QUESTIONS FOR THE SCIENCE BOARD

• On Scope of Work for Food Eaten Away from Home
• On Scope of Work for Pediatric Obesity Education

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Questions for the Science BoardFood Eaten Away
From Home

• Are FDAs proposed questions/issues likely to
  provide appropriate information to proceed with a
  pilot program with restaurants?
• If not, what other questions/issues should be
  addressed?

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Questions for the Science BoardFood Eaten Away
From Home

1. What kind of evaluation is appropriate to assess
   the effectiveness of a pilot program?

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Questions for the Science BoardFood Eaten Away
From Home

• What advice would you have for a facilitator
  concerning the basis for evaluating
  recommendations on providing nutrition
  information in a restaurant setting?

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Questions for the Science BoardFood Eaten Away
From Home

1. What research would be helpful for a facilitator
   to know about to help them provide the best
   guidance to the agency on this subject?

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Questions for the Science BoardFood Eaten Away
From Home

1. In view of the materials youve been provided, is
   there any other advice or information you believe
   is important to give FDA on this issue?

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Questions for the Science Board Pediatric
Obesity Education

1. Are FDAs proposed questions/issues likely to
   provide appropriate information to guide the
   development of useful and understandable
   nutrition/obesity education efforts?

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Questions for the Science Board Pediatric
Obesity Education

1. What research would be helpful for a facilitator
   to know about to help them provide the best
   guidance to the agency on this subject?

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Questions for the Science Board Pediatric
Obesity Education

1. What other questions should FDA be asking a
   facilitator to explore in order to help the
   agency develop effective educational strategies?

28
Questions for the Science Board Pediatric
Obesity Education

1. In view of the materials youve been provided, is
   there any other advice or information you believe
   is important to give FDA on this issue?

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Back to Basics

• "We're going back to basics, designing a
  comprehensive effort to attack obesity through an
  aggressive, science-based, consumer-friendly
  program with the simple message that 'Calories
  Count.'
• - FDA Deputy Commissioner Lester M. Crawford,
  DVM, Ph.D.

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Small Steps

• "Counting calories is critical for people
  trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
  This new report highlights FDA's overall strategy
  for getting consumers accurate, helpful
  information that allows them to make wise food
  choices at home, at supermarkets and in
  restaurants. Taking small steps to eat a more
  balanced diet and to stay physically active can
  go a long way to reversing the epidemic of
  obesity that harms far too many Americans."
• - DHHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson