Letter to the Editor to the Atlanta Journal Constitution on obesity

March 17, 2004

The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Letters to the Editor
72 Marietta Street, NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the nation's 878,000 restaurants, I take issue with the editorial "Obesity too widespread to go without attention" (3/15/04). The editorial misses the point that obesity is about the imbalance of calories in versus calories out. The restaurant industry believes that moderation, balance and physical activity are the keys to living a healthy lifestyle.

Consumers, not lawsuits or government edicts, dictate menu offerings. The restaurant industry has been active in taking market-driven steps to expand nutritious menu options and educate consumers on the importance of a balanced diet. Frivolous lawsuits do nothing to solve the problem of obesity or convey the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Moreover, the restaurant industry prides itself as an industry of choice, providing a range of options that fit any individual's dietary needs and preferences. In fact, 75 percent of consumers customize their restaurant meals flexibility for consumers to make smart dining decisions when ordering.

I think your readers might also be interested to know that the National Restaurant Association offers a free brochure on how to eat smart when dining out titled "Three Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle;" a newly launched "Dine Out Smart" Web site; and the opportunity for Web site visitors to ask our in-house registered dietitian about ways to eat smart. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org

In the future, I hope the Atlanta Journal Constitution remembers that it is simplistic to blame food as the sole culprit for obesity among some Americans. And, as dietary experts continue to remind us, there are no "good foods" or "bad foods" —all foods can be part of a balanced diet.

Sincerely,



Steven C. Anderson
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Restaurant Association
Washington, DC