Coca-Cola has moved to head off rising concerns that sugary drinks are contributing to an obesity epidemic by adopting clearer calorie-count labels, promoting diet drinks and renewing a pledge not to market to children under 12.

The policy, announced on Wednesday, comes as the world’s largest beverage company and its rivals draw fire from health experts and lawmakers over the high calorie content of their flagship products.

“They need to take this head-on given all the pressure they’re facing, certainly from a regulatory perspective and without a doubt from the consumer perspective,” said Ali Dibadj, analyst at Bernstein, an investment group.

He said soda sales had fallen in the US as consumers, worried about health issues, “self-regulated” their consumption. As a result, beverage companies are expanding in emerging markets, including India and China, to win new business.

Analysts said Coke and rivals were concerned about a crackdown around the world.

Coke tries to fend off obesity criticism – FT.com

Burger sales are falling at McDonald’s, which on Wednesday reported its fourth monthly global same-store sales decline since October, when sales at restaurants open at least 13 months fell for the first time in nine years.

While not unexpected, the slight decline in April sales does not bode well for the broader fast food industry. Market research firm NPD Group Inc. last month revised its 2013 “traffic” outlook for the fast food sector to decline by 1 percent, compared with an earlier estimate of flat fast food visits.

In April, the global sales decline at McDonald’s was driven by economic weakness in Europe and Avian influenza in China, while the U.S. posted growth of 0.7%, a slight improvement from completely flat sales in March.

Analysts expected a 0.05% decline. McDonald’s credited the national introduction of “Premium McWraps,” an emphasis on cheaper menu items and its breakfast offerings for the slight improvement.

The ongoing softness at McDonald’s, a chain that beat the odds by posting growth throughout most of the recession, may indicate a new normal for the company and for the industry. NPD expects total restaurant industry traffic – of which fast food represents 78% — to be flat through 2013 and 2014.

The New Normal For Fast Food: Price Cuts and Stagnant Sales – Corporate Intelligence – WSJ

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie secretly underwent lap-band stomach surgery to aggressively slim down for the sake of his wife and kids, he revealed to The Post last night.

The Garden State governor agreed to the operation at the urging of family and friends after turning 50 last September.

He told The Post he was thinking of his four kids and how it was time to start improving his health when he decided to have the procedure.

“I’ve struggled with this issue for 20 years,” he said. “For me, this is about turning 50 and looking at my children and wanting to be there for them.”

He also insisted that, contrary to what observers may say, the effort to slim down was not motivated by thoughts of a presidential bid.

“It’s so much more important than that,” he said.

New Jersey Gov. Christie has stomach surgery as part of weight-loss plan – NYPOST.com

A waiter at a California lounge who caused an outrage last week after labeling a trio of female customers as ‘fat girls’ on their receipt has been fired over the weekend, according to the establishment’s Facebook page.

Christine Duran, Christina Huerta and Isabel Robles were having a good time at the Chilly Ds Sports Lounge and Cameo Club Casino in Stockton Thursday night, but when they asked for the check they couldnt believe their eyes.

‘I got the bill, and I was like, why does the receipt say, “fat girls?”‘ Duran told News 10.

The insulting contents of the receipt went viral, pressuring the management of the Chilly D’s Sports Lounge and Cameo Club Casino to reportedly suspend the waiter in question, known only as ‘Jeff.’

Shortly before 3pm on Saturday, the eatery posted a message on its Facebook page saying that the rude server ‘has been immediately terminated,’ NBCs Bites reported.

‘What happened to those girls at our bar was unacceptable and is in no way a reflection of how we run our business,’ the message goes on to say. ‘We are a family run business and strive to make our customers feel welcomed and appreciated.

Fat Thanks to Mike F. for the tip!

Christine Duran check: Waiter who called three women diners FAT GIRLS on receipt FIRED amid public outcry | Mail Online

Can obese cyclists sign up for the city’s new bike-share program? Fat chance!

It is “prohibited” for any rider who weighs more than 260 pounds to sign up for the soon-to-launch initiative — prompting backlash from riders who say the fat-shaming rule is enough to make them fly off the handle.

Everyone who signs up for the program has to agree to a contract, which states users “must not exceed maximum weight limit (260 pounds)” because the bikes can’t hold that much heft.

Would-be riders called the rule unfair, saying the 40-pound cruisers are plenty sturdy.

HANDLE-BARRED: Riders like this man are prohibited from the bike-share program.

“That’s bogus. 260 pounds isn’t going to break the bike,” said Juleissy Lantigua, 19. “To me, that’s discrimination. And I’m not easily offended!”

Others claimed the rule makes no sense — especially at the height of the city’s obesity problem.

“If you’re 260 pounds or 300 pounds and want to ride a bike, you should be allowed to. You’re making a choice to live healthier and to lose weight,” said Jhoskaira Ferman, a 20-year-old student from Pelham Bay, Bronx.

Several bike-shop owners agreed that the weight limit was bogus.

Bike-share users who make the cutoff weight can sign up for $95 per year or $25 per week. The program will begin this month.

But Department of Transportation policy director Jon Orcutt said the city won’t strictly enforce the weight limit.

“I think people will be self-selecting, practical and safe,” he said.

Fat Thanks to Mike F. for the tip!

EXCLUSIVE: New York City bike-share program bans fat riders – NYPOST.com

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state in a new report that 80 percent of all Americans do not exercise enough.

The statement was made after comparing average physical activity habits of people in the United States with the recommendations for exercise offered by the federal government.

According to the Science Recorder, present Physical Activity Guidelines call for a weekly minimum of either two hours and 30 minutes of walking or one hour and 15 minutes of jogging. Sit-ups, push-ups and other muscle-toning exercises were additionally recommended for people to engage in at least two days per week.

However, Americans are falling short of these goals, especially in regards to muscle-strengthening activities, the website learned. Results varied from state to state, but overall, large portions of the public aren’t exercising enough.

CDC: 80 Percent Of Americans Don’t Exercise Enough « CBS Atlanta

Staying healthy means following a balanced diet. A growing number of people, however, are eliminating entire food groups, seeing only negative qualities in things like dairy, eggs, meats, grains, and fats.

Over time, the only things left in their diet are fruits and vegetables.

Taken to an extreme, it’s now treated as an eating disorder called “Orthorexia”.

This is how Boston University Nutritionist Jenn Culbert defines Orthorexia: “What it essentially means is that someone is obsessed with eating only healthy food that they consider to be pure.”

The problem, according to Culbert, is our bodies need those so called bad foods.

Eating Disorder Orthorexia On The Rise « CBS Boston

There’s no “mystery meat” at one Queens public elementary school.

Public School 244 in Flushing is the first public school in the nation to serve all-vegetarian meals for breakfast and lunch, according to city education officials.

Chefs at the Active Learning Elementary School have swapped chicken, turkey and ham for black beans, tofu and falafel, and kids are digging in with delight.

“This is so good!” squealed 9-year-old Marian Satti, devouring her black bean and cheddar cheese quesadilla Tuesday at lunch. “I’m enjoying that it didn’t have a lot of salt in it.”

The students are pioneers in a citywide effort to make healthy food a staple of every child’s day.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, who often crows about maintaining a fit lifestyle, said the launch of the vegetarian food-fest should be duplicated in schools across the city and country.

“I don’t eat fried foods. I don’t drink soda. I try not to have sweets too often,” said Walcott, who tested the veggie victuals. “And that’s what we want for our students … to make sure they eat healthy both at home and school.”

School 244 in Flushing, Queens, becomes first public school in nation to serve only vegetarian meals: officials – NY Daily News

In California, big gulps could soon be taxed in a big way.

A bill that would tax sweetened beverages like soda and energy drinks a penny per ounce cleared a hurdle Wednesday in the California Legislature. The state Senate Governance and Finance Committee passed SB-622 by a 5-2 vote, sending the controversial measure on for review by the Senate Health Committee.

“This is the first time this state committee has passed a bill that would place a tax on sugary drinks and the first step toward stemming the epidemic of childhood obesity,” the bill’s lead sponsor, Democratic Sen. Bill Monning said in a news release.

The bill exempts drinks that contain fewer than 25 calories, and the funds raised by the excise tax would go to the state’s newly created Children’s Health Promotion Fund, as well as programs that combat childhood obesity.

“By taxing these products we will be able to implement programs that will assist in preventing disease among children and begin to address a public health crisis whose rising health costs affect all Californians,” Monning said.

Sen. Bill Monning  (D-Monterey) says the tax on soda is “a first step toward stemming the epidemic of childhood obesity.”

Not surprisingly, the idea of taxing sweetened drinks does not sit well with the soda industry, which spent millions to defeat ballot measures in two California towns — Richmond and El Monte — that had proposed similar sweetened drink taxes.

The Center for Consumer Freedom, an industry-backed group, vehemently opposes the tax-by-the-ounce idea.

“Taxes shouldn’t be a tool for social engineering or an instrument to penalize Californians for doing nothing wrong,” J. Justin Wilson, a senior research analyst at the center, told the Los Angeles Times. ”Residents of California don’t need a Ph.D. in nutrition to tell them that eating or drinking too much of anything is unhealthy. It only takes a little common sense and personal responsibility.“

California eyes penny-per-ounce tax on sodas and energy drinks to combat child obesity – NY Daily News

An electronic fork that vibrates when you eat too quickly has hit the marketplace.

It’s called the HAPIfork.

It’s makers say it allows the consumer to quickly monitor and reduce the speed at which they eat.

The French inventors hope it can help combat obesity.

HAPIfork records when the user touches the fork to their mouth, and can tell how long the interval is between each fork serving.

If someone is deemed to be eating too fast, HAPIfork alerts them with a gentle vibration and indicator light to remind them to slow down.

Slowing down and paying attention are important steps towards the goal of creating and maintaining healthier and smarter eating habits, according to the people behind the fork.

HAPIfork monitors:

•The number of “fork servings” taken per minute and per meal

•The specific duration of each “fork serving” interval

•The overall meal duration

•The exact start time and end time of the meal

All of the information can then be uploaded and viewed online.  The user can choose to share the information with family and friends.

Fork vibrates when you eat too quickly – New York News | NYC Breaking News