Prescription For Change: Consumer Perceptions Of Weight Loss Medications

Obesity is a global epidemic, and the United States is no exception. Over the past few decades, obesity rates have surged. Between August 2021 and August 2023, two in five (40.3%) American adults had obesity, and nearly one in ten (9.4%) had severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40). In 2023, 23 states reported adult obesity rates exceeding 35%—a stark contrast to 2013, when no state had reached this threshold. More Than Meets The Eye Obesity is a complex disease with emotional, physical, and social dimensions. While the public discourse often oversimplifies weight management to “eat less, move more” and finger-pointing prevails, the reality involves genetic predispositions, co-morbidities, lifestyle factors, and medications. Obesity can also be deeply emotional and personal. Solutions must be comprehensive and tailored, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the condition. Further, the scale is not necessarily a linear destination for most consumers. As scientists have worked to crack the code on how to best support Americans in successfully achieving and sustaining weight management, Americans have continued to lose weight and “find” it again – on repeat – pointing to the need for an innovative and enduring solution. A Trip Down Memory Lane Weight loss medications have been part of medical history since the FDA approved the first one in 1947. However, next-gen obesity medications have been game-changers. The advent of GLP-1 receptor agonists in 2014, and their increased use in recent years, revolutionized obesity treatment. While their effectiveness has generated excitement, barriers such as cost and potential side effects remain. Consumer perceptions of obesity medications have also evolved. According to the annual IFIC Food & Health Survey, the percentage of Americans preferring medication to lifestyle changes increased from 16% in 2012 to 27% in 2024, reflecting growing acceptance of pharmaceutical interventions. In total, the innovation and disruption to the […]

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What To Know Before You Go Keto

Every January, we’re bombarded with messages that a new diet or gym membership is the key to a “new us” in the new year. As the calendar flips, our mindset often follows suit, and many of us look to shave off a few holiday pounds with a diet that provides quick results. One diet that gets a lot of attention for this is the ketogenic diet, an eating style that has grown in popularity in the last decade. In our 2022 IFIC Food and Health Survey, seven percent of respondents reported that they had followed the ketogenic diet in the past year. You may have heard of the ketogenic diet (often called by its shorthand, “keto”) but you may not actually know much about it. This article explains the basics of the ketogenic diet, with a few cautionary tips you should know if you are thinking about giving it a go. What is the ketogenic diet? Although it may seem like the ketogenic diet has been recently created, it’s not a newly discovered way of eating. In fact, the ketogenic diet was first put into practice in the 1920s as a treatment for people with epilepsy after research demonstrated that fasting reduced seizure activity. Therapeutic usage of ketogenic eating patterns by medical professionals continues today, but the diet is also becoming more popular outside its clinical applications. What exactly is the ketogenic diet? The ketogenic diet is an eating pattern that includes high amounts of fat, low to moderate amounts of protein, and very little carbohydrates. The keto diet is typically rich in foods like butter, cheese, eggs, meat, nuts, oils, seafood, and seeds. It does not allow much, if any, room for fruits, vegetables, grains, potatoes, sweets, or other carbohydrate-rich foods. Although there are variations to the ketogenic diet, they all […]

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The Science Behind Intuitive Eating

Years of research demonstrate that for most people, rigid dietary patterns do not lead to sustained weight loss or improved psychological well-being. Many of us have firsthand experience of the difficulties of dieting, and it’s no surprise that we might be looking for alternatives. A practice known as intuitive eating—with a focus on becoming in tune with your body’s hunger and fullness signals and combating black-and-white thinking around food choices—is a potential option. Intuitive eating is a frequent buzzword and has become increasingly popular in recent years, but confusion exists around what this approach is all about. This article will dive deeper into what intuitive eating is, clarify related terms, and explain what the research says about intuitive eating’s effect on health outcomes. What is intuitive eating? Intuitive eating was created by two registered dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, and first published in a book of the same name in 1995. As noted by the creators, intuitive eating is a “self-care eating framework rooted in science and supported by clinical experience.” It’s based on ten principles, quoted below: While intuitive eating does not operate by rules per se, its principles are meant to guide you toward a healthier relationship with food and your body. Intuitive eating works in two primary ways: (1) it helps you get back in tune with your body’s signals for hunger, fullness and satisfaction (also known as interoceptive awareness); and (2) it removes obstacles that might prevent you from listening to your body (these obstacles typically are externally motivated food rules and rigid thoughts about eating). It’s important to note that advocates for intuitive eating assert that intentionally pursuing weight loss does not allow you to eat intuitively, as doing so inhibits you from listening to your body’s signals. This does not mean that it’s […]

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What is the Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

Inflammation has become so mediagenic that we are seeing a new term; an anti-inflammatory diet is popping up in social conversations. But what is inflammation? Is it always bad? What is the role of food in decreasing inflammation? We dig into all these questions as we explore an anti-inflammatory diet. What is Inflammation? Inflammation is the body’s natural way of protecting us from harm. There are two types of inflammatory responses, acute – short-term and chronic, which is long-term. An example of acute inflammation is the pain and swelling that occurs shortly after bumping your head. This acute inflammation is due to your immune system dispatching white blood cells to surround and protect your fresh injury. Within a few hours or days, that inflammation will subside. On the other hand, chronic inflammation occurs within our bodies over a long period of time, often without visible symptoms. Chronic inflammation can be caused by many different factors. Some include prolonged acute inflammation due to an infection or injury, an autoimmune disorder, long-term exposure to irritants, chronic stress, smoking and alcohol. Although inflammation plays a vital role in healing, chronic inflammation may increase the risk of various diseases including some cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, periodontitis and more. Where Does Food Fit In? Inflammation is a complex process, and an anti-inflammatory diet is usually discussed in the context of managing chronic inflammation as food choices can influence inflammation. When it comes to reducing inflammation through food, this diet recommends consuming nutrient-dense foods that contain important nutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, fiber and antioxidants like polyphenols which are what give color and flavor to fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants work by reducing levels of free radicals, which are molecules created naturally by our metabolism, but can lead to inflammation when the levels are out of […]

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Can Processed Foods Find a Place in Your Balanced Diet?

What comes to mind when you think of the term “processed foods”? Consumer confidence in defining this colloquial term varies, according to IFIC’s recent consumer survey, “Perceptions on Processed.” The survey found that nearly half of respondents selected the answer “I can easily explain what processed foods are and identify examples of processed foods.” But what are those explanations? For some, “processed” equates solely to “low in nutrients,” whereas others have a more wholistic definition, acknowledging that processing occurs on a spectrum and that many of the foods we eat are processed on some level. If you’re wondering why these varying definitions matter, consider that how we think about processed foods is the first step in directing how we can appropriately incorporate them into our eating patterns. For example, our survey found that when respondents were asked to choose the positive aspects of processed foods from a list of attributes, the most popular options were “convenience” (with 45% saying so), “affordability” (39%), and “shelf-life” (38%). On the other hand, when provided with the same list of attributes but asked to choose which aspects respondents perceived as negative, the most selected options were “impact on health” (44%), “quality of ingredients” (33%), and “nutrition” (31%). Are these fair assessments on the part of consumers? Let’s review how processed foods may (or may not) play a helpful role in an eating pattern that is nutritious overall. Saving Time Some processed and packaged foods are non-perishable or quick to prepare while still featuring minimal processing, so you can keep your kitchen stocked with fast and healthy options and spend less time prepping dinner. Some great grocery-list suggestions include frozen fruits and vegetables, canned beans, legumes, and soups (be sure to check the Nutrition Facts Label for low-sodium options), fortified cereal and granola bars, microwavable brown rice, […]

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Fast Take: The EAT-Lancet Report on Sustainable Diets

Key Highlights Report states that feeding 10 billion people by the year 2050 with a healthy and sustainable diet will be impossible without changing eating habits, improving food production and reducing food waste. There are some similarities between the current US Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the EAT-Lancet Report’s diet recommendations. However, they differ in their recommendation on the consumption of sugars, red meat and dairy notably. While this report calls for further sustainable food production practices, consumers should not overlook the environmentally focused techniques that are currently employed to produce a wide variety of healthy foods across the globe with natural resource conservation in mind. Feeding our ever-growing population will take the diligent work of many farmers and food producers. As we ponder how much food needs to be produced to feed us all, should we also consider the ecological demands that food production takes? Many of us do. This week, a globally represented group of scientists released a report on this topic. The EAT-Lancet Commission released the “Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems” report showcasing new dietary recommendations focused on enhanced plant-based food consumption to increase the health of our populations. The report also issues advice on altering food production practices to be more environmentally sustainable and increase the health of our planet. What is the EAT-Lancet Commission? EAT is a global non-profit that aims to connect science, policy, business and society to achieve their mission of transforming the global food system through sustainable diet and agricultural production practices. Their primary goal is “to achieve planetary health diets for nearly 10 billion people by 2050.” What Nutrition Recommendations Are in The Report? Let’s take a closer look at what the report recommends and how it compares to another well-known set of evidence-based dietary recommendations: The current US Dietary […]

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At IFIC, collaboration is central to our mission to communicate science-based information on food safety, nutrition and health. Our supporters include food and beverage companies, commodity boards, academic institutions, government agencies, professional societies, and nonprofits. Their support – from funding our mission to research partnerships to serving on our assembly – helps us produce consumer insights, develop expert education and address misinformation with evidence-based communication. Looking for more? Want to collaborate? If your organization shares our passion for science communication, we’d love to work with you.

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IFIC Spotlight Surveys: A Continued Look At COVID-19’s Impact On Food Purchasing, Eating Behaviors & Perceptions Of Food Safety

In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has been entrenched in our daily lives for the better part of one year. In the midst of its impact on the health of many and the lives of everyone, the way we’re thinking and acting around food and food safety continues to evolve. IFIC released two ten-question consumer surveys of COVID-19’s effects on shopping for food, eating habits and perspectives on food safety: one in April and one in May. Since that time, we have been tracking select questions each month to assess changes in perceptions and behaviors over time. We have also asked a few new questions to further help us understand how the pandemic has shifted our actions and our viewpoints. The results of these survey questions can be found at the links below, and we will continue to update this page with new information as time goes on. December 2021 Americans are experiencing the holiday season during a pandemic yet again, but IFIC’s 2021 COVID-19 and the Holidays Survey shows that our plans and behaviors aren’t exactly the same as they were one year ago. Nearly three in ten – 29%, say that they plan to attend a gathering with only fully vaccinated friends or family, while 15% say that they plan to attend a gathering with no COVID-related restrictions. Despite variations in holiday plans, the majority say they are most excited about eating with friends or family (47% ranked in their top two responses) and eating homecooked or traditional meals, reported by 46% of survey respondents. Nearly one-quarter (24%) rank family tradition and/or familiarity as the most important factor in deciding what to eat and drink during the holidays; this factor tied with taste for the top spot and taking priority over other aspects like price, healthfulness and convenience. For many, the anticipation of the holiday […]

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