PrefaceIf you really want to improve your diet and fitness, this book is for you. If you want to lose weight, lower your cholesterol level, and avoid the pitfalls of poor diet and inactivity-related diseases, this book will help you set and meet these goals. The DINE System®, including the software and text, utilizes the latest computerized technology and includes a comprehensive self-management procedure to ensure success.
We eat more processed foods than ever before. We eat an increased number of meals outside the home, and when we do eat at home, we often eat carry-home meals. The food marketplace has become more international and diverse with ethnic foods, gourmet foods, and specialty foods. Many of us do not know the nutrient composition of these foods.
We also live in a convenience-oriented, super-scheduled environment with too-many-to-mention labor saving devices. We are very inactive and our inactivity is emerging as a leading precursor to many diseases. This book will assist you in tracking, analyzing, and improving your physical activity to ensure that your health is not jeopardized by inactivity.
Poor food choices and lack of adequate physical activity is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. More than 120 million Americans are overweight or obese, and one child in six and one adult in three is obese. Leading health experts predict that if trends continue, almost everyone will be overweight by 2030.
The epidemic of overweight, obesity, and lack of exercise is producing a growing risk for diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, cancer and other serious health problems. Currently, consumers on weight reduction programs and related products spend over 40 billion dollars.
Our nutritional environment is very complex. Food companies make product claims for a nutrient (e.g. fat-free), and then include another one to excess (e.g. sodium) in the product. Over a decade ago, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) mandated that food products be labeled with nutrition information, yet it is still difficult to determine if, over a 24-hour period, you are consuming too many calories, too little fiber, too much sodium, or too much saturated fat and cholesterol in the foods you eat. The Institute of Medicine and the American College of Sports Medicine indicate that you need between 30 minutes and 60 minutes of moderate exercise per day, yet it is difficult to determine if you are getting the right amount and kind of exercise to maintain your health.
The DINE System uses computerized diet and physical activity analysis technology to simplify and personalize this complex eating and activity environment. As a result, you can select foods you know are healthful and that you enjoy. You can compare the nutrients in the foods you are eating with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005 guidelines. You can avoid the risks of inadequate exercise by tracking and evaluating your physical activity according to standards.
The text, including your personalized reports and Computer Labs, guides you step by step in the change process. The Labs provide the basis for a strategy for you to input your personal food choices and physical activity. Completion of the Labs help you structure day-to-day improvement. The text also includes charts, personalized reports, and a template for your nutritional lifestyle management plan. Over time, you will be able to observe your successes as you gain control over your food choices, physical activity, and excellence in health.
A multidisciplinary group of scientists designed The DINE System. It is based upon 20 years of research and over $4,000,000 in grants from the National Institutes of Health. This text, the DINE Healthy software, and related materials are continuously updated and improved to ensure that you have the very best products to improve your life and health.
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