Beware Of Meal Replacements When Dieting

PITTSBURGH -- An estimated 40 million Americans are considered obese. Each year, only about 30 percent of the population diets.

Some of those dieters turn to meal replacements in their quest to lose weight. But is that such a good idea?

"We eat day and night. We eat in the car; we eat when we're walking," said Madelyn Fernstrom, who heads the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Weight Management Program.

Officials said it's Americans' fascination with food that's shooting the obesity rate up.

"Americans are the No. 1 fattest nation on earth," Fernstrom said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity in this country has risen at an epidemic rate over the past 20 years. Poor eating habits and physical inactivity are major contributing factors.

If you're like most people, you don't have time to prepare three healthy and nutritious meals a day. That's why meal replacements are popping up all over supermarket shelves.

Even iced tea and yogurt companies are getting in the meal replacement game. But make no mistake -- these aren't diet foods.

"Don't be fooled in thinking that if you utilize one of the popular meal replacements that you're going to be saving calories," Fernstrom said. "There is almost 300 calories just in a little bottle. And so is it nourishing? Yes, it's got some protein, it's got a little fat, it has some fiber, and it's got a lot of sugar. Coupled with a fruit, you're topping up almost at 400 calories. That's too much for someone who's trying to watch their weight, because you can eat a lot of food for that number of calories."

So how many calories should you eat? According to weight-control experts, you should consume 300 calories for breakfast, 300 for lunch and between 600 and 800 calories for dinner and a snack. Can meal replacements actually help you do that?

"A meal replacement can be a good way to get some healthy nutrition, save some calories and keep you on track because it provides structure," Fernstrom said. "But do not think that the number of calories really make it a diet food."