Reducing Health Risks For Women And Children

A surprisingly reasonable suggestion by the ADA. Surprising since it is in agreement with what I have been advocating for years.

"Diet and nutrition counseling for virtually all overweight and obese women of childbearing age can reduce health risks associated with excess weight for mothers and children alike, according to a newly released position paper from the American Dietetic Association and the American Society of Nutrition."

And the time to do it is BEFORE they get pregnant, i.e., discourage the fat from having kids until they gain caloric control.

"An estimated 33 percent of U.S. women are obese, according to the authors, who write that a long-term goal of health professionals must be to reduce the number of women who become pregnant while obese. They add that the effect of a woman's nutritional status prior to pregnancy is an issue of great public health importance."

This is consistent with others, like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital (well-known hospitals), both of which are consistent with the policy of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology - all of which were way later than Fitness Watch in calling for this.

It is about time that these Johnny-come-latelys were getting their acts together with the positions expressed here.

Problem is, they will almost certainly fail to really translate their talk into walk.

That's my bet.