Splenda® Survey Weighs In on Weight Gain, Identifying Causes and Solutions

Fort Washington, Pa., March 20, 2003- According to a recent weight gain survey sponsored by Splenda no-calorie sweetener, 65 percent of those surveyed identified too many desserts" as the major culprit in their yearly weight gain. Both men and women agree that a sweet tooth, as well as too many meals and too many snacks overall, rank as the top three reasons for the ever-growing battle-of-the bulge.

The survey results are consistent with what weight control experts know," said Hope Warshaw, registered dietitian and author of the Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating, 2002. Food means comfort and celebration, and brings people together. So its not surprising that we continue to succumb to the lure of good food and sweet treats. The challenge for all of us is to choose healthier foods most of the time, eat less of the foods we choose and get active."

While more than 70 percent of men and women expect to gain weight during the year, 37 percent of the women predicted their spouses or significant others will gain five pounds or more. The men are slightly more gracious, with 23 percent estimating a similar weight gain for their partners. However, both sexes are equally committed to losing weight, primarily by being more active, eating less and reducing calories during 2003.

Warshaw believes that sweets still can be part of your healthy eating plan. Enjoy a small serving of the sweets you love a couple of times a week. Then shave calories and carbohydrates without compromising the sweet taste by using a sugar substitute in coffee, tea or cereal and enjoy foods and drinks sweetened with a sugar substitute."

Warshaw suggests a sensible approach to changing eating habits to shave calories and ultimately a few pounds.
•   Set goals to make heathy behavior changes one step at a time.
•   Reflect on your eating habits. What do you do well? What foods lead you astray? Do you live on take-out food? Learn about yourself and where theres room to improve.
•   Set goals. Identify a few habits that you need to change, that youre willing to change and that are easiest to change first. Set the stage for success.
•   To shave calories, focus on sugars and fats. Start with sweets, desserts and sweetened beverages. That approach not only helps you cut calories, but also is good for your overall health.
•   Pour and sprinkle less sugars.
•   Lighten up on sweets, which are mainly a combination of sugars and fats. Eat half the portion you usually eat. Share desserts in restaurants. Use a no-calorie sweetener instead of regular sugar.
•   Choose kid portions, appetizers or small orders.

Avoid being part of the five pound-and-up" weight gain group. Re-think your eating habits and activity plans now, so you can enjoy a sweeter lifestyle.

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The Splenda Good Taste survey consisted of 300 national telephone interviews to men and women, ages 25 -- 49 years old. Thirty-two percent of the respondents were 25-34; and 68 percent of the respondents were 35 -- 49. Seventy percent the respondents had children in their households; 30 percent did not.

McNeil Nutritionals is a Johnson & Johnson company that markets innovative nutritional products and dietary alternatives, including cholesterol-lowering foods and supplements, products for lactose intolerance, Splenda® no calorie sweetener and Viactiv, a calcium supplement.

*Survey conducted by Treiber Research Resources on behalf of Splenda, November 2002. The nationwide telephone survey sampled 300 men and women aged 25-45; the margin of error was +/- 4.9 percent at the 95% level of confidence.