Do Food Labels Need Activity Labels?

So, a KIND bar is about 200 calories, which doesn't sound like very much. But when you're told that you'd need to run (not jog) for twenty straight minutes to burn that off, you start to get a better idea of what those chocolatey nuts really mean for your body. That's the thinking behind a new health initiative proposed by the Royal Society of Public Health in the U.K. When the organization found that 44 percent of people were confused by information on food labels, they realized that symbols are easier to understand than figures and activity symbols would be clearer to people who lack nutritional knowledge. Chief executive of the Society, Shirley Cramer, suggested that a label could have a picture of a person walking with "26" written next to it, or a person running with "13" next to it, to show how to burn the calories in a can of soda. Fifty-three percent of people she surveyed said they would positively change their behavior with that kind of labeling – what about you?

Someone forward you this email? No Sweat! Sign up here to get your own If you're having trouble viewing this email, click here Follow Us Do Food Labels Need Activity Labels? So, a KIND bar is about 200 calories, which doesn’t sound like very much. But when you’re told that you’d need to run (not jog) for twenty straight minutes to burn that off, you start to get a better idea of what those chocolatey nuts really mean for your body. That’s the thinking behind a new health initiative proposed by the Royal Society of Public Health in the U.K. When the organization found that 44 percent of people were confused by information on food labels, they decided to try something different.  Chief executive of the Society, Shirley Cramer, suggested that a label could have a picture of a person walking with “26” written next to it, or a person running with “13” next to it, to show how to burn the calories in a can of soda. Fifty-three percent of people she surveyed said they would positively change their behavior with that kind of labeling – what about you?  Nicholas English Content Manager of About.com Health 9 Ways to Burn 100 Calories in 10 Minutes READ NOW Here's How Much Exercise You Need to Burn Off Calories    READ NOW Prefer Walking? Here's a Miles to Calorie Calculator    READ NOW 5 Ways You're Reading Nutrition Labels Wrong READ NOW Trending Now • How the Seasons Can Cause Your Cholesterol to Fluctuate • The Alternative Way to Alleviate Chronic Pain • Does Diabetes Increase Your Lymphoma Risk? • 7 Protein-Packed Post-Workout Snacks • How to Take Control of Your Chronic Migraines • Who Should Be Screened for Lung Cancer? • Tylenol After Surgery: Yes or No? Advertisement About Health  |  Follow Us You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2016 About.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.