美政府呼吁美国人少吃多运动

 

US Government Asks Americans to Eat Less, Exercise More

美政府呼吁美国人少吃多运动

 

The U.S. government is asking Americans to eat less and exercise more in an effort to stem the country's increasing epidemic¹ of obesity². It has issued revised dietary recommendations that emphasize proper nutrition, more physical activity, and personal initiative in maintaining a healthy weight.

 

U.S. law requires the government to revise its dietary guidelines every five years to keep up with the latest scientific research. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, whose agency is responsible for promoting healthy nutrition, says this year's update is an effort to reverse a situation where two-thirds of Americans are too heavy.

 

Ann Veneman: The new dietary guidelines are part of the ongoing³ effort to help Americans adopt and keep healthier lifestyles and to address the epidemic of overweight and obesity that is affecting so many, especially our nation's children. The federal government is committed to helping⁴ fight this epidemic.

 

Secretary Veneman acknowledges that the food recommendations have not changed much over the years. They still call for diets rich in a variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and limits on fatty foods and salt. This year, however, they place stronger emphasis on the importance of balancing energy intake⁵ and output, calling on people to cut their calorie consumption and exercise more. The guidelines urge adults to exercise at least moderately for no less than 30 minutes a day and children, 60 minutes daily.

 

The U.S. agriculture official acknowledges that past government efforts to promote a healthy diet have failed, although she notes that the public recognizes the importance of weight control as shown by the strength of the multi-billion dollar diet industry.

 

Ann Veneman: All of these diets have become wildly popular and become best sellers. Clearly people are reaching out for information. Have we been successful in the past? I mean certainly we've had dietary guidelines and yet we still see increasing overweight and obesity in this country.

 

U.S. Health Secretary Tommy Thompson says too many Americans want to lose weight without any effort, and poured scorn on those waiting for a miracle diet pill.

 

Tommy Thompson: There's not going to be a pill! So let's face it, America. There is more information out there, but it always comes back to: Eat your fruits and vegetables, watch your calorie intake, and exercise. That's as simple as it can be!

 

Mr. Thompson says U.S. food manufacturers are responding to the need for healthier diets, especially for children. Many have reduced the amount of sugar in children's breakfast cereals and are promoting the whole grain and vitamin content of other foods. And as the government issued its new dietary guidelines, one of the largest U.S. food companies, Kraft, announced that it will restrict advertising⁶ of snack foods to children 12 and under and market its healthier products to this age group.

 

David McAlary, VOA news, Washington.

 

注释：

stem [stem] v. 阻止

epidemic [7epi5demik] n. 时疫，疫疾流行，流行病

obesity [Eu5bisiti] n. 肥胖，肥大

nutrition [nju:5triFEn] n. 营养，营养学

calorie [5kAlEri] n. 卡路里

scorn [skC:n] n. 轻蔑，嘲笑，被叱责的人

manufacturer [7mAnju5fAktFErE] n. 制造业者，厂商

cereal [5siEriEl] n. 谷类食品，谷类

snack [snAk] n. 小吃，快餐

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

6 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。