“Weighty” Facts

Americans’ Weight Gain Costs Airlines

Americans gained an average of ten pounds per person in the 1990s. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the extra weight cost U.S. carriers an additional 350 million gallons of fuel in 2000. That amounts to an additional $275 million annually in fuel bills for the financially strapped American airline industry.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lack of Sleep Risks Weight Gain

When you don’t get enough sleep your blood level of leptin— a hormone that suppresses your appetite—drops. When the level drops, your appetite will increase for high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods. To help keep your leptin level up and reduce your urge to overeat, get six to eight hours of sleep a night.

Source: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, November 2004.

Eating More Fruits and Vegetables and Less Fat: Leading Weight-Loss Strategies

According to a new survey of eating habits commissioned by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), 4 in 5 weight-conscious Americans are taking an old-fashioned, “common-sense” approach to managing their weight. They turn to salads, fruits, and vegetables and decrease the amount of fat in their diet when trying to shed a few pounds. The fact that a clear majority of Americans are adopting this approach, amid the low-carb marketing craze, is encouraging news to health experts concerned about the state of nutrition in the U.S.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research, www.aicr.or