Media Release

For Immediate Release 
Date: May 21, 2003 
Contact: Robert Marshall, PhD 222-1017

RI Coalition Helps Fast-food Consumers Make Informed Choices

Fast-food consumers can still make healthy choices. A statewide coalition of hospitals and the RI Department of Health developed a Reference Guide to Fast Food as part of an initiative entitled: "Rhode to Health - It's Your Choice". The guide is designed to "prompt" consumers about higher and lower calorie choices for seven well-known fast food restaurants. It fits in the glove compartment or on the visor (use an elastic or strap-not supplied) for convenient use.

"In the battle of the bulge, the basic equation is matching calories consumed in eating against calories burned in physical activity," said Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of the RI Department of Health. "The fast food prompt will help people pick lower calorie food options which will lead to thinner waist lines and healthier futures."

According to the Fast Food guide "If you choose to eat fast foods, remember that some choices are better than others. You want to consider fat, cholesterol and carbohydrate content in your choices, but counting calories is a great place to start … and when it comes to calories, what you don't know can hurt you." The idea is to help consumers make informed food choices.

The U.S. Public Health Service identified obesity, overweight and poor nutrition as major risk factors for population health, second only to tobacco as public health threats. The Rhode To Health Coalition was formed to help achieve the Healthy People Objectives for 2010. The Coalition identified obesity, nutrition and physical activity as its key priorities to improve the health of Rhode Islanders.

"More and more people are eating out and on the run," said Kimberly Mansell Koness, MS, RD, Director of Food and Nutrition Services at RI Hospital and a member of the Rhode to Health Coalition. ""This makes losing weight more challenging, but if we can help people make informed decisions, they can learn to consume fewer calories, even when eating at fast food restaurants. Of course, increasing physical activity is also a critical component."

The Coalition will make the fast food prompts available to employees and communities of all the participating institutions. The public can get a copy of the material in English and Spanish from the Department of Health website at www.HEALTH.ri.gov.

Member organizations of "Rhode to Health" are: Bradley Hospital, Butler Hospital, Care New England Wellness Centers, Eleanor Slater Hospital, Kent Hospital, Landmark Medical Center, Memorial Hospital of RI, Newport Hospital, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, Rehabilitation Hospital of RI, RI Department of Health, Rhode Island Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital for Specialty Care, South County Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Westerly Hospital, Women and Infants Hospital of RI.