“Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin” by John Cloud appeared in the August 9, 2009 issue of Time Magazine. This article discusses the struggle with weight loss and the role that exercise may not play in helping individuals obtain the results they desire. Mr. Cloud quotes Steven Gortmaker, who heads Harvard’s Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity. “If you‘re more physically active, you’re going to get hungry and eat more.” Gortmaker has also studied childhood obesity. Also detailed in the article, was a paper published in the International Journal of Obesity describing a study of 538 children. Gortmaker and Sonneville found that children who begin exercising, end up eating more. The average consumed was 100 more calories than they had burned while participating in exercise. Exercise has many health benefits and should be encouraged. However, from this article it is questionable if rigorous exercises help obese children.

Food intake remains a concern in fighting childhood obesity. Eating healthy is very important in the lives of young children. Just recently MyPryamid, which is part of U.S. Department of Agriculture, joined Twitter. This is an excellent resource to support healthy eating in child and adults. Whether you use Twitter or the internet at www.usda.gov, you will learn what is going on, and what is coming up!

Thanks and have a fabulous weekend!

Hatch® encourages exercise, wellness and awareness with the Fit 4 You™ Kit

License to Snack (www.licensetosnack.com) is a web-based tool featuring information and resources about healthier snacking developed in collaboration with American Dietetic Association and Frito-Lay. The purpose of this interactive, educational site is to provide a clearer understanding of how healthy snacks can be included in a young children’s daily diet.

The USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion’s MyPyramid e-Post announces a Small Changes Summit on January 14, 2009, in Washington D.C. from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For the betterment of health in children and families, this summit will announce “an assault on obesity from all directions.” This assault will be a combined effort between Government-Science-Industry. To find out more, please go to www.mypyramid.gov.

USDA has recognized Hatch, Inc., as an industry partner with the development of the Fit4You fitness and nutrition kit (www.fit4youkit.com) and during this event Hatch will be highlighted as a partner for this project. We are proud of that distinction!