Other than formulating "better-for-you" foods, what should marketers do to promote health and fitness among Americans?

VERBATIMS

Other than formulating "better-for-you" foods, what should marketers do to promote health and fitness among Americans?

make healthy foods

It's up to the consumer to regulate what they eat. It's up to the marketer to be more specific in what people are eatting.

Not promote items that really aren't healthy as being healthy. For example, Low fat cookies generally are not healthy but are marketed as though they are.

Cut way back on sugar, salt, food coloring, MSG, etc.

get pertinent information and stop lying to the public. Assume some responsiblity.

Nothing. People need to take responsibility for their own actions.

Help us eat less. We're fat mostly because we eat too much of everything.

Use the technology that's available today to help make healthier food choices convenient for consumers. Currently we focus on using technology for our own advantages -- shelf life, food costs, etc. Give some advantage to the consumer.

i can't think of anything accept offering more healthy options- i also think that it's a mind thing more than anything. so, it's about keeping americans happy and healthy in the mind....

It's not marketers' responsibility.

Nothing. If people want to be healthy, they will act accordingly. Did you ever notice that the people who opt to take the stairs are the ones who don't need to take the stairs.

Education program on reading labels!

remind consumers their purchase decisions are "choices"

Have smaller portion sizes, use more natural ingredients, lower prices for healthier foods and higher prices for "bad" foods.

Tell people to get off their collective fat asses and do something.

Promote healthy lifestyles/activity.

Reduce packaging sizes - i.e., there seem to be larger & larger sizes of chips and pop, & there is always the temptation to finish off the package, no matter how large the portion. Also, market some healthy snacks to public schools, and juice rather than pop!

don't know...

Get rid of the really bad-for-you foods

sponsor children's athletic teams, hold events for families to educate about nutritiona d exercise with particular focus on areas of the country with high obesity indices Partner with exercise companies and equipment/apparel manufacturers Create programd that incent consumers to win by product purchase exercise/or diet modification - adding fruit etc

Gently encourage

Nothing. It's not their responsibility. My body is my responsibility. I'm tired of junk science and fads that change the definition of what foods are healthy every five years and I hate legislation/regulation based on scientific "reports" paid for by lobbyists. Look at the high-carb/low-carb switch. Who knows what is "healthy?"

Sincerity to help American's enhance their lifestyle. In the long run, the longer Americans live, the more they will consume. So it's in the food industry's benefit to help us live longer. We'll eat more. Although they shouldn't be as blatant as this.

Limit marketing to kids (such as every ad needs to be approved by the gov't and limted in it's airing).

Depends on what products/services your'e marketing

It's not so much the "formulate better for you foods" as create the awareness (e.g. ads) with as much heart as they would the less healthy for you variety.

Explain on company websites the calorie and ingredient contents to consumers. Put the messages/links on their packaging for reminders. Have healthy articles/links to good partners on the website for customers to be educated.

Marketers need to consider their customers and prospects as they do their families and friends - and act accordingly.

For one thing, be honest about serving sizes--list the calories for the entire 16oz bottle of juice, soda or tea, not for a third of it. List the ingredients in plain language, and list them all. This is important not only for those watching their weight, but for those with food allergies. Also, the misleading labels, such as the ones that lead you to believe it's whole wheat bread (but it's really bleached white flour with coloring added to imitate whole wheat) or made with "natural" ingredian

Marketers should focus attention on America's school-age children. Aggressively promoting heatlh and fitness issues - instead of high calorie - high sodium snacks would begin to affect change.

It is an economic issue. Did you ever try to pay for a basket of all-organic food? I'm also reminded of an episode of "Roseanne" where she taught meal-planning at her daughter's school. Her answer-which Cheetos were the cheapest?

Not sure

Make low-fat and fat-free foods less expensive (like that will actually happen!)

Promote healthy lifestyles (eg exercise, outdoor activities, walking, healthy cooking, etc.) as much as product portion size, price, taste, etc.

Nothing. They're trying to sell food. Marketers for Gold's Gym and Health food should do a better job marketing their products. Hat's off to the marketers at McDonalds and Frito Lay -- They have done their jobs!

Depict the slobs who actually eat their stuff in advertisements. Ha!

Depends on the marketer. McDonalds has no responsibility to outwardly "Promote" health and fitness. Bally's, Nike... companies in the niche have a huge opportunity. I wish Bill Gates would donate a megabillion to the produce and other whole food industries and govt so they could do something. I wish ABC would revive a modern school house rock as cool as the original, to teach kids not to stuff themselves and remain wired to their couches. Cars, remotes, cable and computers are as much to blame a

Promote lifestyles versus diets. Your current lifestyle got you fat by changing your lifestyle you can loose the fat and keep it off vs. Dieting to loose weight but what happens when you go off the diet (i.e. back to your old lifestyle) ???

Promote the concept that eating healthy empowers people not to age, not to get wrinkles, not to get acne, etc.

Sponsor health & fitness education campaigns & promotions.

I think restaurants should offer smaller portions on entrees and desserts. When I order dessert, I just want a taste of dessert not an entire pie. Fast food chains sell large and super size meal deals that are cheaper than just buying a drink and a sandwich. Plus, unless you buy a children's meal, you get a truckload of fries. No such thing as a small fry anymore. Small has been replaced with large. Consumers have no willpower. If you put a plate of fries in front of me, I'll eat the entire plat

Tell the consumer to take charge and educate themselves and demand a decent healthy product (this will happen when hell freezes over...educate the consumer....ha!)

tell the truth

Promote mom's cooking sit-down dinners at home. It provides meaningful family time as well as healthful meals. It's far too easy for people to go through the drive-thru on the way home and grab a burger and fries.

Promote unprocessed fruits, vegetables and whole grains by making it seem cool to consume these foods and to achieve fitness.

- Stop marketing junk foods at schools and to kids - Provide finding for education programs at schools, new parents, etc. - Sell products in proper proportions - Provide easy to find info and research on the web

What I want to know: is this the end of the Oreo as we've known it for decades? The main problem is the quantity. Don't eat a sackful of Oreos at one sitting. Nothing Kraft can do about that.

Geez that is a tough one! How about stop promoting milk, sugar, meats through the different councils they have and promote more fruits and veggies? Less "fast" carbohydrates! Going back to the gym and excersizing every day.

It is not food maker's responsibility to make a person healthy....that is the problem with our society...everyone is so quick to point the finger...

Nothing. It's not their responsibility. Aren't consumers grown ups now - yet?

I don't know that it's the marketers responsibility. I think we remove too much of the burden of maintaining good health from the individual. Marketers should be truthful in disclosure of content, but the responsibility to translate that to health and fitness belongs to the individual.

In addition to reducing fat content in food, a concerted effort to reduceportion sizes should be reduced as well, particularly in fast food. Do we really need a half gallon of soda at every meal? A triple burger? Extra super duper great big fries? Unfortunately, I believe this problem stems from a much larger issue. We are fixated on instant gratification whether it be food or non-food items and are willing to act now and pay later. We've lost the ability to do things in moderation and

The state of current thinking on obesity is in flux; the low carbohydrate faction is currently winning in the diet wars. What does it mean for marketers if all of the Atkins dieters are eating steaks and green salads--and losing weight? Do we continue to promote processed foods? Among other things, marketers should educate the public about portion size. What is a portion of potato chips? Of soda? Of french fries? People don't necessarily realize that a Big Grab of Doritos and a Big Gulp of Mo

Form strategic alliances and sponsorships with health-promoting organizations and events to educate. As diametrically opposed as it is that Phillip Morris has a campaign about the dangers of tobacco that drives traffic to its website for further details about how their products kill consumers, I don't see any other choice.

stress the importance of serving size

My job is to promote our clients' brands, not health and fitness.

balance the marketing message with life skills messages, such as exercise, etc.

Offer incentives to become healthier and fitter - promotions, joint marketing etc.

encourage active lifestyle

I don't believe this is the responsibility of the marketer. That's the responsibility of the consumer...to take care of ones self.

Nothing--Americans have to want to by heathly

Clearly label ingredients. For instance, let people on Weight Watchers know how many points are in their products.

Have co-branding agreements with respected health brands

Lower the prices of health food and increase the availability of it. Stop focusing on the making foods "easy to consume" (like those gogurts and cans o' cookies). We should focus on what the food tastes like, not how quickly we can shove it down our gullets while driving/working/watching WWF. Someone should have the guts to market Big Macs and Whoppers as the over-indulgent treat that they are. Instead of selling them as normal everyday dinners, present them as a treat that we deserve every so

Participate and/or partner with "healthy living or non-profit organizations" whose goals are to help Americans eat better/lead healthier lifestyles. This "market er " participation will have resources above and beyond those of the non-profits and therefore will do more to help Americans stay in shape than any "lean cusine meal" could ever do.

restaurants should reduce portions, provide options and not call the small sizes .. petit but normal.. then super huge, etc. also it is what parents feed their children - it starts at birth.. changing habits.. but people are busy and prepared and processed food needs to compensate for lack of home cooking by adding fat and salt... and other chemicals.. make more things organic, take the hormones out of meat., beef chicken etc.

Be honest regarding the nutritional benefits of their products. Limit quantities.

Put George W. Bush on a fish diet (it's brain food, you know?)

Be honest regarding the nutritional benefits of their products. Limit quantities.

Stop believing the lies that the food industry giants are telling their agencies so that the marketing programs are just extending the lies. Processed food is not good. Why not eat the whole food instead of some "new and improved" version that was created in a lab? Mother Nature put food on this earth for us to consume, not chemicals and artificial flavourings to think we are eating the real thing. Marketers should understand that most of the research supported to back up the claims made by

Print the information on the containers and give the consumers a chance to see what they are buying

Quick trying to sell dubious "get fit quick" schemes and focus on educating consumers about the basics of good nutrition and fitness.

Continue to stress to consumers the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables as the mainstays of their diets. The message that are jobs and lives are so busy that we don't have time to eat healthy is overly exaggerated. It only takes a moment to prepare a salad or eat a piece of fruit. Consumers have to have confidence that they can change their eating behavior. They need to constantly be reminded that they are intelligent enough to make the changes especially if they want to continue with

Marketers should simply attack the excuses for not being healthy and fit. Marketers must also show that being fit is not just about appearance, it's about accomplishment and a longer life.

Stop listing unrealistically small portion sizes on nutrition information. Contribute to programs that educate people about overweight and lack of exercise leading to disease and lack of energy. Use case studies of before and after (like Prevention Magazine) with real people telling how much more energetic they feel after losing weight and getting moving.

Reduce sizes but not price -- it has worked when commodity proces (coffe, cocoa etc have increased -- Will improve margins and reduce consumption. use some of the margin gain to include better ingredients (olive oil vs. trans fattiy acids for example) Feature healthier combinations on packaging e.g. Chips and Salsa vs, chips and sour cream dip Really work to make low fat taste like something. Sweeteners have coma long way twoards reducing calories but maintaining tatse. Fats have not. Mos

They've got to make a reasonable compromise btween "tastes great" and "is good for you". Their food must do both! Cut or replace sugars, unhealthy fats..portion of calories derived from fat. Take a portion of their advertising dollar and promote healthy eating - can also be acomplished by promoting healthy recipes using their products.

stop advertising "super size", cut portion sizes, advocate exercise.

Educate consumers! Consumers have no clue as to acutal portions much less nutrition. To much emphasis is on up-sizing portions for value. A super-sized fry is acutlly 4 portions or more! 2 cookies are a portion weather it is Oreo double fudge or Snack Well Sugar free. Not an entire row!

Keep preaching moderation and providing more examples of it perhaps. Consumers use the confusion of messages about what's good and not good for them as an excuse to do nothing.

Have activites listed on the web site in which they sponsor to encourage individuals to get active.

Nothing- i think that we complain that all we see in fashion magazines are skinny girls that are not realistic, but then we blame the companies making the food that they are making us fat. Americans need to stop blaming everyone else and start putting the blame on themselves. If people did not buy the foods, then the companies would not make them, and the marketers would have a different consumer to sell to. Americans know what they need to do to not gain the weight, but it is just easier to

Sponsor local fitness activities

It's not their job. Their job is to sell food people enjoy eating.

I agree with "better for you" foods and smaller portions (probably the worst culprit are the large portions -esp in fast food). Companies could also invest in more education for children on how to eat well, which they could learn at school - as it seems that parents are not doing their job in this department. It would also be nice if healthy food was not quite as expensive as fatty foods. Other than that, consumers SHOULD be the ones taking responsibility for themselves and their eating habits.

event marketing and grass roots efforts linking better eating to assorted entertainment and sports venues are the way to go

Teach healthy eating to kids. Market smart and healthy choices instead of sweetened, processed, artificial foods. Start these habits young, and change will follow.

Educate people onl healthy alternatives and the value of spices. Educate people on the part food and diet plays into the overall way you look. We should encourage physical activity.

Meal solutions in their advertising that are quick, easy and nutritious. Include in their advertising messages to consumers

make healthier products and educate people to healthier living

educate.

The problem is that big bucks are tied around NOT healthy foods and activities. It's rare that organic foodstuffs have the kinds of dollars that fat-food do. We have become to used to the salty, sweet, fatty tastes of fast-food and consumers are not likely to quickly change. The best would be for each of those that make the most off these kinds of foods to add more healthy foods -- and support more heatlhy leftstyle changes.

Promote events featuring health and fitness - sponsor walks, races, triathelons, etc. Use healthy - looking models and images in advertising. Sponsor heathy, non-criminal sports figures.

Education

stop lieing

It's not what we're eating, it's how much we're eating. The serving sizes at restaurants are much too large. Consumers feel pressure to eat everything in front of them, especially if they are spending upwards of $20 on the meal. Marketers could communicate a messages about eating well-balanced, smaller portion-sized meals; and provide realistic examples of what a well-balanced meal should be.

provide suggested portion sizes, in clearly identifiable and understood language on packaging step away from supersizing --- even if some consumers want it! Some Americans need to be prevented from themselves! tone down the candy, soda and snack food advertising to kids associate their brands with events or activities that promote exercise, athletics, sports sponsorships, etc.

Sponsor more events such as 5Ks, 10Ks and Marathons; visibly market any involvement in health-related philanthropies or donations made to health-related causes (e.g. cures for diabetes or cancer); advertise how they are supplying schools with healthier lunch options (this is where much of the problem lies).

Americans need to be reminded that "dieting" is not the answer - a "healthy lifestyle" is. Diet is part of that lifestyle (diet meaning types of foods eaten, not a reduction of food intake). Education is part of that process, as is the creation of resources, alternatives, and convenient solutions for nutrition, physical activity, stress management, time management, etc. Americans are busier than ever, and as marketers, we need to provide products/services that will address the needs of today

Promote a more healthy and attainable body image. Also, use fewer additives and artificial ingredients and fewer processed ingredients. Take out the artificial sweeteners - which have been provened to be a health risk AND make people crave more sweets.

Clearly communicate a meaningful benefit of health and fitness - make it strike a chord among consumers. Numerous benefits could be used -- longevity, appearance, self-confidence, etc. The trick, of course, is not to sacrifice total consumption and the firm's volume. It may mean a shift in choice (say from Coke to Diet Coke to Dasani), but the firm retains annual/lifetime consumer value.

iwe are a nation of fatties with young kids learning its okay to stuff their faces with chips and wash it down with soda. i think the industry needs to inform/educate people on healthy eating habits AND moderation. Unfortunately, Americans don't do moderation well.

Tell them what is in it. Make the information available on websites and disclose on packaging tht it is available there in gory detail. Disclose fat sugar added fat added sugar genetically engineered components and [percentage trans fat

Recommendations for incrementally changing behavior, such as walking 1,000 steps a day, will have more impact on our health than re-engineering or remarketing foods.

1. Increase awareness of high-fat foods and the risks they entail - support a consumer educational campaign 2. Provide tasty and nutritious foods that are not high-fat 3. Completely REMOVE trans-fatty foods from all products 4. Realize that if they don't take any drastic measures, they are slowly killing off their customer base!!!

Nothing; it's not their job.

Support educational programs that address the entire diet, not just specific foods. Create interesting diet and cooking programs on MTV and food channel. Create more health eating segments for the today show. Make nutrition a significant aspect of health classes in all schools. I think Weight Watchers has the right program and approach for people of all ages. eDiets.com offers a good program without requiring meetings.

I don't think its really the responsibility of marketers to promote health and fitness beyond providing good tasting products that meet the needs of consumers who are want to pursue a healthier diet. Consumers will always reject products that don't taste good. What marketers should not do, however, is give products a healthy halo that really aren't good for you (WOW, SnackWell's, etc.)

It's not the marketers fault that people eat too much. It's all about self control. Instead of blaming themselves, they need to blame someone else. It's wrong!

It is not really the job of marketers

Educate. Provide their own internal support programs for a healthy lifestyle. Encourage rather than ostracize obese people, and those with health issues.

Marketers can provide good information, reduce the number of real and implied promises in consumer messaging AND encourage government to spend its $ on better things than warnings on packages - like consumer education, public education, public service communication, early child-hood education, nutrition information. Government might even go further and look at jobs - provide programs which allow people to afford good, healthy food, and time to prepare and eat it. The other thing marketers

The answer is not easy. Marketers want to sell product and that may, in some ways, conflict with health, fit Americans. If you are marketing food products, you want to sell product. If you are a marketer, do you really want to promote a program that is going to get your consumer to eat less of your product? I think the answer is "no". If you are marketing a weight loss supplement, you may not want people to eat more, but you do want them to take your product. Again, promoting health and fi

You cannot legislate behavior. The driving force for consumers is "convenience" (ie. easy). So if marketers want to capitalize on this trend for a health/fitness product, it's probably their best shot in the short run. The "eneny' (if there is such a thing when it comes to food/health/fitness) is three pronged: [1] the concept of 3 meals/day is on it's way out -- replaced by the 24/7 mentality of "grazing". [2} sedimentary life style, and [3] the programming of kids w/activities rather

Get people from the health and fitness industries to indorse their products Make eating healthy food sexy.

I don't think that it is the responsibility for food marketers to promote health and fitness. That is not in their charter, from my point of view. They should be required to provide good nutrition information, which they do pretty well, with the exception of 'trans fats".

develop product and services offerings that they themselves would use to keep fit .And deliver the message in ways they themselves would understand.

I vote for ridicule. Logic and rationality never seem to work with Americans, so just point and laugh. Next, mount a campaign against lawyers. Trial lawyers' class action suits reinforce the public's notion that their stupidity is someone else's fault. No. Consumers are dumb, they need to take responsibility for being dumb, and lawyers should be enjoined from exploiting that "infirmity."

Since when is it corporate America's responsibility to promote health & fitness? Unless of course they are a gym or hospital chain. Marketers can and should promote the healthy benefits of their products (and other USP's) but to saddle companies with the responsibility of promoting healthy lifestyle is expecting way too much. This country is about individual empowerment and personal responsibility, not corporate paternalism.

Stop trying to hide ingredients on labels, package in reasonable portion sizes (without charging more), use ingredients that are more healthful.

- Give information about how those better formulated foods can be used in every day healthy diets. - Sponsor health and fitness events

Stop showing pictures of healthy and slim people eating products that actually make us fat. Truth in advertising.

Nothing

Nothing else

Although I just stated that Kraft's move (alone) would not impact the health of the average American, I believe that if more companies produced healthier portion sizes there would be some impact. Kraft produces many products, but still only penetrates a small portion of a consumer's pantry/refrigerator. Still, people have fallen into habits of overeating, so until those are addressed at their core effects will be minimal because people will simply eat 2 packs of Easy Mac instead of one. I believ

Advertise a healthier lifestyle and not campaign so hard for "new & improved" or try to one up each other.

Stop making the healthy stuff the most expensive or hard to get

Make it more accessible and make the "unhealthy" foods, etc. less accessible.

Nothing. It's none of their business.

It isn't our job.

Provide campaigns that educate ... teach nutrition early ... teach self respect ... provide images that illustrate a "can do" attitude...and that eating well is fundamental to a healthy body and mind as well as a successful life.

Develop some sort of cost structure that would make healthy, "good for you" foods as affordable as the junk.

co-ord approach on context of food and eating. To a non-u.s. consumer, us portions are astonishingly large and what is considered o.k. nutrionally in u.s. would not be elsewhere. The key is to address where and how people eat and go from there. The abandonment of regular social/family meals makes eating individual and often rushed and secretive. No one knows what and how much you are eating. And no one much cares. Eating habits seem a casualty of increasing individualisation and that big shift h

commit to truth in labeling, adopt uniform serving size guidelines

I don't think it's a marketer's job to promote health and fitness if it's not in line with their strategy. Sometimes you simply are what you are.

A four word mantra will solve all: "Eat Less and Exercise".

Weight Watchers and others make a fortune selling healthy lifestyles to consumers. But they had to develop a point system to make sure that their product is easy enough for the average consumer to understand. We are lazy as a nation. And we don't have the infrastructure (i.e. markets that we can walk to, bike friendly roads, showers for employees who exercise before during or after work, positive reinforcement via health insurance credits for those who work out, better physicial education in sch

Educate the poor--can teach young children in nursery school programs and in elementary schools. Kids are capable of convincing their parents to do things--eating better could be one of them.

A continuing program to educate consumers about healthy eating. This might take the form of notices on packages pointing out why this product is better than another choice, highlighting government guidelines for healthy eating, etc. Or maybe an expansion of the notice on cereal boxes that "this is just one part of a complete balanced breakfast"

support education initiatives that empower consumers to make the right food choices.

Talk and promote balance in life

Food habits is cultural. To modify them requires a lot of energy and not just a product well marketed. Snaking and the dislocation of meals is a real trend that goes contrary to healthy food.

Create incentives to exercise, whether it be group programs, contests, promotions, etc. Make it cool and fun to work out.

Really find ways to help Americans exercise. Find ways to get corp America to support workplace fitness.

Well, even though I think consumers have to take on their own eating habit issues, I think that marketers should be forced to discuss how things are processed and the ingredients. When we talk about how food is preserved, we, as consumers, do not really understand the ingredients or what the process entails. I am somewhat educated on processing and preservatives, but I just try to buy organic. Most Americans are not even aware of how much antibiotics, steriods and other crap that producers inj

Promote fitness.

1. Comply with the above suggested "Government warning for fat" labels. 2. Sponsor nationwide programs for health and well-being--partner with health and fitness companies (ex. offer gym memberships as promotional prizes, etc.) 3. In general, align themselves with existing health and fitness entities as a way to build public perception that being healthy is "cool/popular/sexy/beneficial"--all the things marketers usually wish for their products

Communacate the benefits to consumers in all advertising.

Stitch our mouthes shut. What ever happened to personal responsibility?

Demonstrate a healthy lifestyle, not just focus on quick fixes that do not work in the long term. Offer up things that do not take too much time but will better health in the long term i.e. taking the stairs or getting enough calcium in your diet.

Advertise health and fitness

Education, education, education! How many Americans can read a nutritional panel on a food label? Do they pay attention to the serving size or the number of servings on the label? Focusing on fat and identifying what kind of fat = saturated & unsaturated and now identifying the trans-fats has made a big difference. However, how many people pay attention to how much sugar is in a particular food? What about carbohydrates? Does the general public know anything about complex carbohydrates (veg

Make helathful foods tasste better, dole out single-portion sizes

Encourage physical activity and sports for all - especially children. Discourage TV viewing, GameBoy playing, video rental, and unhealthy snacking. Stop marketing salty and sweet snacks to children. They are almost as dangerous to kids' health as cigarettes.

there is not much an individual marketer can do--a food manufacturer is unlikely to spend funds on a campaign to encourage excercise as an offset to his/her fatty products the way the beer industry is forced to advertise in favor of responsible drinking

Food and exercise need to be promoted.

Promote education on health issues, fitness, and the like.

Teach them young Get them moving Get them eating real food not processed - reduced consumption of just soda can have a huge impact on weight loss Involvement and creation of events around fitness - create brand experience and WOM opportunities here - just look at Michelob Ultra

provide alternatives on menus and product shelves for low fat consumers

offer tie-in's/promos with health clubs, sponsor inschool programs promoting healthy eating/lifestyles

Decrease portion sizes Cut out the sugar and salt--they are more to blame than healthy fats. Create new, easy snack foods that are high in protein, low in sugar, portable. Show normal-sized people in ads, not just ultra-skinny people that most of us can never come close to being. Show people engaging in exercise and playful activities.

quit marketing fatty junk and fast food to kids. it's where the problem begins.

Increase awareness, especially for children in terms of how to make healthier decisions. It really isn't up to us though--our job is to market products and lifestyles and if one is a marketer for Kraft or McDonalds or for that matter Phillip Morris, then one is responsible for creating a successful, ethically responsible marketing campaign for those products. It's up to the consumer to use a little common sense. In general, the challenge is about your basic "truth-in advertising" conundrum. Pe

sponsor more sporting events more education on diet

Not their responsibility

Why is it the responsibility of marketers to promote health and fitness among Americans? Can't the general populace think for themselves? Part of the problem with today's Americans is that we are waiting for others to tell us what to think, rather than assuming responsibility for thinking for ourselves. News worthy articles devoted to nutrition are helpful, but for the most part, people need to decide if they want to eat healthy foods and stay fit.

More labeling

Make great healthy foods cheaper and more accessible. Convenience stores are stocked with foods and snacks - all high in fat, calories and low cost.

Nothing. Not their responsibility to promote health/fitness, only to ensure their products don't mislead people regarding their benefits/detriments.

Offer active, lifestyle content to their customers and sponsor health education and fitness activities to youth and their parents.

Put foods in the context of a total eating plan. How to make trade-offs, what frequency is suggested for a particular type of food. How to off-set indulgences with other foods., etc. Send kids and teens home from school with suggested menu that the family can make together. Kid pressure on parents not being leveraged. Nutrition should be taught in school, as well as cooking.

Signage and on pak burst explaining the health benefits

The reason why Americans eat food that is poor for them is because it tastes GOOD. Make healthy food taste as good!

talk about health benefits from their products

Devote more to lifestyle marketing - true better for you value propositions alongside events that promote activity and athetisism

Tell the public that low far does equal low in weight. Find ways to get people off their butts to be more active.

Do a better way of promoting how to cook in a more healthier way.

1) Good eating habits start at home! Educate parents about the link between childhood eating patterns and adult diseases. The information is all on the product label - people have to start thinking when they eat. 2) Put some of those marketing dollars instead into supporting legislation of whatever's need to ensure that schools require a decent amount of physical exercise. If kids don't move, they can't stay fit.

reassess the definition of 'healthy food'. Recent medical research has suggested that a high protein and low carbohydrate diet, mixed with exercise is good for the heart (and for weight loss).

Build h & f education into event marketing campaigns that tour the country. We need to reach the people directly with education and simple tips on the basics of a healthy diet and excersise...it doesn't take much. We also need to practice what we preach...companies need to encourage employees to take time for excersise during the day...go to the gym instead of ordering those two slices of pizza and a coke.

Nothing. Unless they are selling veggies, bicycles or gym memberships, it is not their job. The responsibility lies with consumers. Parents should serve their children healthy food and encourage them to lead active lives. Educators should integrate information on preparing quick, easy and healthy meals into health courses. This is not rocket science and there is no conspiracy to make people fat. You don�t need to go to Whole Foods to eat well -- you just need information and discipline.

Aim for quality over quantity and tie quality to nutrition solutions - meals instead of food products.

We need to show more images of people, adults and kids, involved in physical activities. I remember McDonald's had a TVC years ago of a group of young African-American girls jumping rope. If you've been jumping rope for hours, having a Big Mac isn't so bad.

Awareness campaign's

Make it cool to walk. Many Europeans eat high fat foods, but they walk everywhere, not drive.

partner with organizations already targeting this issue, PSAs, incorporate into all facets of ad and pr campaigns, create an overall awareness of the severity of issue with celebrity and influencer backing

Promote more physical fitness/activity programs. There are too many stationery activties in todays life. Recommend to reduce internet surfing, Video Games, computer work.

Stop producing food that need not be refrigerated because that kind of food has trans fats almost always. (Please see the book I co-authored, BAD ATTITUDE: CHANGE YOUR KID'S RUDENESS IN ONE WEEK WITH FOOD by Audrey Ricker Ph.D. and Brian Cabin MD, (MD.H.) published last year by Rodale. This book has a large section on the evils (literally) of trans fats. They are necessary for the shelf life of foods.

More education materials available at the point of purchase or via subscribed email. Tie ins with health/nutrition organizations Provide more choices of healthy foods in restaurants Use "pop-ups" -- little messages in print ads -call outs- to the benefits of sensible eating REmind consumers about the dangers of overweight children -- becoming overweight adults Marketers should work with physicians to help educate the consumer

So what the booze companies do. Promote responsibility for ones actions. Americans are notorious for blaming everyone else except themselves. Get a copy of Robert Hughes "Culture of Complaint" for more fun.

Sponsor more health events, increase advertising aimed at promoting fitness consciousness.

I'm not sure marketers should do much-- other than support any agency that stresses PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY in America. Marketers are not the reason that Americans are fat and unhealthy-- Americans are fat because they enjoy convenience, over-indulgence, instant gratification... I could go on.

Sponsor fitness programs--senior walk-a-thons, runs, swim meets, etc. Publish equivalencies on their websites so those who truly are concerned have accurate information. For instance: 3 slices of Kraft American cheese = 2 eggs = one tuna sandwich = one do-nut (Example is not fact-based, simply shown for style)

Get more European - Promote month long vacations, for health - daytime health fitness programs at the workplace, and moderate exercise PSA commercials

The real problem is lifestyle. Work is not as physical as it used to be, so people are getting fatter. Fitness has to become a cultural more. I think it's more important than diet. "Better-for-you" foods are almost meaningless if we continue to sit in front of the TV and the computer.

the FDA should assume it's responsability in educating all americans of means to attempt to achieve an optimal dietary intake: 1. adjust RDA to reflect real world data 2.give us Dept. of Agriculture info on lack of adaquet chromium (prevent Dm II), Magnesium (lower blood pressures naturally), and zinc (reduce incidence of prostate ca) in the soil thru most of U.S. 3. make citizens aware that longevity (and health) is related to low weight

people need to accept accountablity - it is that simple. Marketers must be more realistic - take this and modify your diet and exercise should be given equal prominence.

Cut portion sizes ... particularly at sit-restaurants. Or, offer two sizes at two price points to encourage smaller portions.

Clear packaging that simply explains the ingredients and nutritional value of products. Less hyperbole on nutriceuticals, like Sobe beverages.

No one damned thing. Generally speaking, it's not "marketers' jobs" to promote health and fitness. Just look at the PSAs on teenage sex, drinking, drugs and all of the other ills that we try to engineer out of society. Other than making the broadcasters feel good (and meet their federally mandated PSA quotas) who benefits? Has one kid ever said "no" to a friend offering a joint because Sara Michelle Geller told him to during a 7-second commercial break? Get real. People are responsible for

Provide adequate nutritional information on-pack and on restaurant.menus. Companies could incent/reward physical activity, ie. reduced cost gym memberships Schools should require PE (I believe this has been dropped from some) Parents should limit kids' TV time.

sponsor un-biased education programs aimed at parents, separately one aimed at school kids, and another aimed at college students / 20-somethings cooking for themselves for the first time...

It's not the markerter's job to "promote health and fitness," unless they are selling a health and fitness product. Marketers market products, not lifestyle choices. Americans don't make wise decisions about foods, but that's not the marketer's problem.

They should promote health and fitness in a more positive way. Much of the advertising and marketing of "healthier" foods is centered around dieting--which I believe almost always makes people feel inadequate and bad about themselves. The best thing healthy eating and fitness has to offer is the possibility of a longer and more enjoyable life. And marketers should also focus on the fact that just a small change can make a big different in someone's health. It's easier to take one more step towar

Get involved with sponsorships/promotions of outdoor activities/fitness events over doing promos with toys at Burger King, for example. Select and become truly involved with a particular health/fitness cause - and really highlight it.

Focus on age group wants and needs such as those in Gen X or Baby Boomers.

Educate consumers on portion sizes and reward good health. Continue to grow fresh and customizable selections. Companies can offer fitness club reimbursement, market healthy meal options (including small meal offerings throughout the day), provide forums for discusssing health concerns/issues.

It's not food marketers responsibility to do that. It's their responsibility to sell the food that people want to eat. That being said, there's a huge market for healthy entrees. The camp is divided in two...on this side it's Oreos and on this side it's Snackwells.

Not sure. It seems like a cultural issue that's snowballed. All Americans work way more hours than they should, so they don't have time to exercise (or, to find enough joy in it to want to do it) and they don't have time to cook for themselves or even pay attention to the prepared foods they're buying. The widely available prepared foods in this country are fat-laden, and value seems to equal bigger portions. Marketing's role in this is the glorification of food in general. Folks in this co

Offer promotional tie-ins and sweepstakes/contests that are related to living healthy lives - trips to spas, personal trainers, etc

Fitness challenges in communities would be great.

Show good eating/exercise habits CONSISTENTLY.

nothing

Sponsor educational campaigns for nutrition and health literacy with as much glitz, production values, and energy in the message as is expended on pushing junk.

Limit portion sizes

People have to be accountable for there lives. Everyone tells them that they are not to blame, they are victims of evil conspircies. You just go to say no some time! How do you legislate that! They tried to do that during prohabition.

*be honest in their labeling e.g. - get real with the amount in a "serving" and how that translates to fat and calories *support physical education programs in schools and after school programs *reward ACTIVE consumers in contests and give-aways

Consumer education, new products/formulations.

they should "promte health and fitness among Americans"

Create more good food that is healthy. Forget the McGiddles and start focusing on healthy!!!!!!!!!!

Natural - not refined or processed - no additive or preservatives or artificial color, sweetners or flavor.

Where there's a business opportunity in promoting "better for you" foods, marketers will take advantage of it. Other than that, it's up to the consumer to make the decision to eat right or not.

Marketers should promote full, honest labeling of product contents.

educate users to be aware of the food they eat

Marketers have to find product that appeals to consumers and that they can market! the fact is that on the food front, more fat, more sugar, more salt, tastes Good! On the sizing front, that is crazy. It just a way to make more money per unit (shrink size but charge only a little less - margin goes up!) Every marketer just has to go to Costco - I don't see anyone shrinking down there! Mainstream american could give a plug nickel about health and fitness.

It has to start with parents teaching their kids.

Education. Talk about impact of weight gain on health, lifestyle, longeivity in similar way to anti-smoking campaigns. Find ways to support people taking responsibility for their health & wellbeing.

sponsor -- with money -- health initiatives, sponsor sports teams at the municipal or regional level, spend lots of money in schools promoting physical fitness and healthy eating, sponsor fitness programs

I'm all for altruism, but the fact remains that good marketers will be driven by consumer needs and preferences. In order to change what marketers market, you need to influence consumer preferences first, and that's not likely to be initiated by most marketers unless they work in healthcare or the government. Look at what's on TV these days - Jerry Springer, the Osbournes, endless, meaningless reality shows with substantial audiences - much of the time American consumers don't want what's good

I wasn't aware that it was their responsibility, unless they are in the business of health and fitness marketing.

The bacbone of both the American culture and of marketing is freedom to choose. Marketers should offer a choice, urge consumers to choose, and urge them to take responsibility for their own choice.

talk about portions, how much of their "fatty" products should be consumed per day in a healthy diet, talk about how to limit too much salt, fat, sugar in diets, etc.

Smaller portion sizes at restaurants. Perhaps small, medium and "really hungry!" I mean not only fast food restaurants. Also, more single serving foods.

its not up to marketers

Better-for-you foods often lack taste and don't provide satiety. Consumers will not buy them regularly until they taste as good. Marketers are doing a good job "promoting" health and fitness in advertising campaigns. Nevertheless, fear of litigation seems to be the reason for the sudden and feverish activity on that front by marketers.

Label full-fat vs regular fat

Corporate support for community-based opportunities, i.e. walking/biking trails

- look for ways of promoting kids involvement in sport - no advertsiing in children's programs

To name a few... co-market with health & fitness groups, work on/fund public awareness campaigns with health organizations to promote more active lifestyles, take the "crap" food out of the schools which is where young consumers are learning bad food habits that jeopardize their future health

Restaurants and fast food places do not need to serve such large portions. Stress quality rather than quantity.

Sponsorship of organized activities in which the average american can participate that fit into a busy schedule and don't require extra-ordinary athletic ability. Healthy recipe contests, and compilations. Sponsorship of Magazines such as "Cooking Light" and other health oriented magazines. Promote healthier fast food options. Disclose nutritional information of fast foods and restaurant foods.

encourage consumers to make exersise part of their daily routine

Incorporated exericise and food content knowledge on their packaging and inside with inserts. In addition, provide health related, (exercise, label knowledge,) on the brands website.

I feel portion size is a huge contributor to obesity in this country. People eat what is placed in front of them, and what is placed in front of them at restaurants and at home is more than necessary. In addition to reducing portion size, promotional tie-ins with gyms and fitness equipment manufacturers may work. Poeple need to want to change their lifestyles.

consequences of fat in your diet

truthfully discuss the benefits of whatever food they make

spin the message the health matter and you control your future

promote a healthy lifestyle as well as diet; stop decreasing dress sizes!

Honestly, clearly and voluntarily communicate contents of products so consumers can make an informed choice -- not just about fat, but also meat content (important to vegetarians), salt, sugar, etc. This is a comment outside of the question, but I really have very low tolerance for people placing responsible for their health choices on manufacturers as long as the manufacturers make information clear. I mean, do we really need warning labels on french fries or gourmet ice cream to know they

put photographs of really disgustingly fat people in skimpy outfits on the packaging of high fat foods.

They could work together to establish a healthy menu "code or icon" for consumers (ie. a menu icon that would signify X # of grams or less). Seek endorsements from Health professionals. For example, El Pollo Loco alliance with Healthy Dining, a team of nutritional professionals committed to helping people identify healthy menu selections at their favorite local restaurants.

After engineering these better for you foods, don't price at a premium.

they should not 'upsize'

Provide education on how to take care of yourself.

support primary and secondary school education - and i don't mean running promotions in schools to promote consumption or selling their junk food in cafeterias and vending machines!

work closely with recognised companies & professionals who specialise in healthy eating, living - "wellness".

Nothing

Just that - promote health and fitness. Proper nutrition information (and accurate) on the products and allow us to make our own decisions.

We're wishing for Rewards programs that would earn points toward spa vacations, alternative therapies/health care providers ... Body/Mind/Spirit healing

Promote eating in moderation and enjoying an active lifestyle.

Depends upon what they are selling. It is not the role of business, or Govt, to mother people. If individuals can't look aftern themselves then no-one else stands a chance of diong so.

Provide portion/serving size info that synchs up with health guidelines.

Just be honest about the nutritional value of their products. Especially portion sizes--most 'portions' are tiny, especially for men, so we may think we're getting only, say, 3 grams of fat, but when a 'portion' is just a handful those grams of fat quickly add up.

Education from an early age.

let's eat less processed food and more whole natural foods.

- Stop putting together "quantity-oriented" marketing pitches and packaging -- meal deals, supersize, jumbo pack, buy-one-get-one-free, etc. - Find convenient health food options...drive through carrot sticks, smoothies, etc.

they should reinforce balanced diets and exercise are critical to healthy living

Actually tell people what they put into food and what those extra ingredients do to the body.

1st we need to get the all you can eat and the oversized portions restaurant chains on board and with the program. They need to reduce serving sizes or at least offer two sizes of portions with the prices set accordingly. Next, employers need to provide their employees a bonus program tied to fitness and wellness. Third, health insurers need to offer real savings to customers who can meet specific, clearly defined fitness/wellness measures.

marketing can change the mind of a nation and a world. health foods cost more it will happened. Money rules marketing

Be honest about their products and give real facts. The worst position is implied claims of health for rather bad foods.

provide an easily accessible forum/format for dissemination of nutritional facts enabling consumers to make knowledgeable decisions

If they think a market exists for healthier foods, they should pursue that market. They should have no legal obligation to promote anything healthy. Public interest and charitable institutions should encourage healthy lifestyles and provide helpful information. Consumers, however, are responsible for their own eating decisions.

1. foods truly need to be healthier, not just soluble vitamins thrown in with the food full of chemicals and little nutritional value (ie.many Kraft products) 2. marketers need to sponsor provision of fun, comprehensive, healthy lifestyle information, unencumbered by blatant product sales pitches, to children (from birth up), parents and teachers AND they should sponsor school phys ed equipment, phys ed teachers salaries, and school liability insurance costs (our company does this type of work

Nothing. Its not marketing's responsibility to promote health and fitness unless the product/service has an overt consumer benefit for those consumers that are seeking to maintain/improve their health and fitness.

No opinion

Gee, maybe they should show models that are unrealistically skinny or "buff". . .

have accurate labeling. How Food Labels Legally Mislead By TARA PARKER-POPE July 15, 2003 Wall Street Journal 'And by manipulating the serving-size portion of the label, popular cooking sprays, made of 100% fat, can boast they are fat-free and calorie-free. That's because the FDA states that any product with less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving can claim to be fat-free. So Pam spray says a "serving" of the product equals just 0.266 grams -- or a spray of one-third of a second. Most of

Nothing as Americans should not be eating any processed foods if they truly want to be healthy.

Provide more and better information.

Promote truth in packaging, advertising and pr. Much like credit cards or consumer debt, we can promote responsible use.

tie-ins with healthier life style choices, like sponsoring advertorials which address issues like excercise you can do from your desk.

Use realistic models, healthy but not outrageously thin. Increase the information content of their advertising.Educate school children in an ethically repsonsible fashion.

Encourage healthy eating habits, promoting products as part of an active lifestyle.

let them get fat, why does the government need to get involved? it is human nature to be greedy and this is exactly what overeating is all about. separate those who have a serious health issue and can't stay fit from those lazy, fat americans who don't care. we need to help those who have a medical condition. but treat it medically. last time i checked kraft was no doctor's office!

Joint campaign to talk up the need to manage proper consumption against proper exercise and healthy living. One brand cannot be expected to manage this.

not our job - unless our brand proposition is "better-for-you"

Is this not more a government / moral issue rather than marketing?

don't pull the wool over consumers eyes by putting "healthy living" logos on boxes of sugar filled cereals in order to suck people into thinking they're doing themselves good. higher tax on "less healthier" foods. kraft's pledge to reduce fat and portion sizes is good, but it's only one manufacturer. try getting mcdonald's to do the same. it's akin to television. a diet of reality tv readily available ultimately dumbs down a nation. an offering of high fat foods that are convenient,

The reason many people don't look after their healthis because they don't care about themselves - they have a poor self-image. If there was more promotion of family values (eg - it's OK to read to your kids) people would feel valued (ie because their parents care enough to read and talk to them rather than shove them in front of the TV) and would actually WANT to look after themselves (kids wouldn't want to binge on sweets and Big Macs!)

Put food marketing in th econtext of better lifestyle approach

more education about a well balanced healthy diet

Scientific facts, like percentages, graphics, etc

The better for you foods is key. Can't believe how easy it is to buy nutritionally useless food rather than fresh food Initiatives to raise health awareness - look at the Nike 10k Run in England

Not food marketers responsibility - however, fashion marketers could stop communicating bizarre body fascism And... food marketers could do a much better job of trying to understand basic physiology and psychology of food preferences

Think about natural vs. engineered foodstuffs

Evaluate the size of portions. Look at the amount of food thrown away at restaurants, for example.

Provide educational messages for food.

Financially support educational programs in schools, and athletic programs

Marketers should be promoting a better work/life balance, so consumers have time to exercise and lead a healthy life.

there is nothing they can do, as it depends on what the manufacturers manufacture!

Potions, portions, portions. Eat more, weigh more. The single labeling initiative that would have real significance would be to give greater prominence to serving sizes in a container, close the perception gap that a container equals a serving.

Grassroots fitness / education platforms Healthy imagery and branding More accurate / truthful (less deceitful!) labeling in serving sizes, "better for you" claims, etc.

I think one of the biggest problems is that it's easy and a whole lot cheaper to eat unhealthy foods. I could go to Taco Bell and get an entire meal for $3-$5. And it's true in the grocery stores too. Unhealthy foods are much more inexpensive than their healthy alternatives.

Be honest about what's in their products. Be aware of alternative nutritional information...i.e., the Mediterranean diet.

Just as they currently do for alcohol and cigarettes, encourage moderation/responsible behavior.

Nutrition is a complicated issue and the average American doesn't really understand much about it, but they rely on information from marketers, who generally also do not understand it particularly well (nor is it their job to.) That said, I would like to see manufacturers / marketers at least stop disseminating misleading information, such as promoting salads with huge amounts of high-fat dressings as healthy alternatives, or suggesting that fat-free cookies which have large amounts of simple

Education Positive messages on packaging--like oatmeal and "heart healthy"

Communicating how their foods can be part of a healthy lifestyle, communicating benefits of health and fitness

Why is it the marketers problem. I know what a McDonalds hamburger can do to me. I know that I do not want to be grossly overweight. So I eat them knowing fully the consequences. We should do a campaign that tells people to wake up and take responsabilitiy for themselves.

Tell the truth about fat content and calories and stop trying to deceive the consumer buy using loopholes in food labeling laws. For instance, don't label a product "O calories" per serving when in truth, three of or four servings will contain some level of calories.

Talk about nutrition programs, and working exercise into your day.

Along with the media, produce more informative PSAs on the value of fitness, focus on kids now.

reconfigure and publicize standard portions to meet realistic expectations

- Participate in programs to redefine healthy living and food and how their products fit in. - Help create a demand for organics. It's not just low fat, - "better for you" is about more sustainable agricultural practices, low use of chemicals and hormones. -

stop f----ng lying about what is inside their products and be honest for god sakes. it's unreal that the government (the government!) has to tell marketers what the right thing to do is - we should f---ing know better already. sorry for the rant.

I don't think it's marketers responsibility. We are all well-educated on the basic food groups and what we should eat.

Shouldn't have to promote it. If people want to eat fat, let them get fat. What will fix things is when people have to pay for their health care costs caused by fat. When they see how much it's costing them financially (and not just physically), they'll see they can't afford the flab.

Have easy/quick to prepare healthy foods with less fat on the market.

Until it's profitable, marketers will never promote health and fitness among Americans. The "low-fat cookie" craze is testament to that.

Show food ads in healthy situations (e.g., parks, gyms, beaches) and get health spokespeople to plug parks, recreation and other popular, venues and programs that help pomote health and build community. Community building is key to supporting better fitness and health.

Back the new venture I am starting with Dr. Tim Patel. He has an eating plan that is healthy and very tasty with real food. It is a very, very easy plan to follow.

find ways to produce foods without transfats

This is about lifestyle changes and it's both on the business level, and on the consumer level. Business needs to make changes to give their employees more opportunities to work exercise into their day and more healthier snacks in the vending machines. Insurance companies need to develop more preventative care plans. Governments need to design cities with more walking and biking opportunities. And consumers need to take some responsibility for their health and turn off the TV and take a walk wit

It's a weird cycle we're in -- people want to see ads that depict themselves doing/buying but that image has gotten more "everyman" and also more out-of-shape. So in turn it reinforces that image as being okay.

Start with the kids and their parents. Market in schools more about healthy living. Hit the tween/teen age group about excercise and eating healthy.

integrate the importance of exercise, moderation in eating, and balance in eating in their advertising.

Nutritional Education...not just pushing their products and helping farmers market directly to consumers vs. agribusiness system

Promote healthy living as an across the boards lifestyle. Children should be taught nutrition in elementary school and be encouraged to continue health classes through high school, possibly in gym class. The department of health should do a national ad campaign outkining guidelines for healthy living. I believe so many people are obese because they do not know much about nutrition and so most American meals are not cooked at home. People need to be able to prepare quck, easy and healtyh meal

stress physical activity and better report portion size on labels

make foods designed for "children" less in fat.

It's OK to eat whatever you want to. Just know that volume is the problem, not the ingredients. The old adage about diet and excercise could be augmented with the term moderation.

I think that in general they should re-inforce the portion sizes and lead a more active life. Cooking at home from scratch will also make a difference in the health amongst Americans.

Adopt trans fat labeling ASAP -- even prior to required deadline. Adjust portion sizes a la Kraft -- without jacking up prices dramatically -- for the smaller, more healthful versions.

For one thing, McDonald's should not punish people, like me, by charging me for smaller portions. It is less expensive to order a value meal, but when I tell them I want a small fry (Not the super size that they give) I am told that tjhey need to charge me individually for my soft drink, small fries, etc.,whcih ends up costing me more. I could buy the value meal, but then I would have to throw out food and some people don't have the will power to take the bigger portion and not eat it.

The food industry(production, manufacturing and distribution) has got to take the offensive in a collective effort to genuinely help consumers understand both the benefits of good eating habits and provide practical information on how to do it. This would be based on FDA dietary guidelines and similar "unbiased expert" sources. Yes, I know these are not perfect but the industry has got to get over it and be seen to be promoting "good" habits. Using this foundation the industry needs to undertake

Education Promote "eating healthy" as the cool thing to do.

Start naming the really bad brands appropriately. Maybe "Lard Ass Cookies" or "Big Gut Chips" would clue people in.

Make people walk further to get it! Seriously food marketers will need to educate people that you can not eat everytting, sit on your duff and not expect the consequences. So must the TV networks & video game marketers, the car manufacturers, and every other product that has helped Americans become sedentary, while consuming twice the calories as when there were fewer cras, more people walking, more physical activity in the majority of workers work days, etc. America also needs education

Portion sizes should change both in terms of packaged foods and servings at all types of restaurants. Sodium is an issue in all package foods and should be addressed.

Make them more convenient, to buy, including at restaurants and fast-food outlets, and advertise the health benefits via media and promotion vehicles.

Make it easier for consumer to get the right information and when it is needed. And make portion sizes on packaging representative of what people consume in one eating situation.

Encourage/support more freakin' EXERCISE!

They should be promoting healthy lifestyles not just diet.

develop products and services which promote well-being

They can't, it would go against corporate america's hunger for quarterly profits. There is no profit in raw fruits and vegetables, grains, and non-meat products.

Incorporate research and statistics (Americans love stats) about health & fitness into marketing campaigns. (Not scare tactics). Make consumers aware of the nutrional value or health benefits of their product(s)....

Use ingredients that are naturally better for you, not re-engineer basic junk to be smaller or with less of the bad stuff

Spend some of those marketing dollars in support of healthy activities for kids, particularly in inner cities.

Americans, in general to not prescribe to " I wish you enough" thinking--- it is usually excess--or the more the better i.e., all you can eat buffets- I would like to see the healthie side of coprorate American in schools vs the soda manufacturers health and fitenss are values- and not everyone cherishes them- but everyone wnats to look younger and or better

It really isn't the job of food marketers, although I don't mind seeing trans-fat and other known to be risk-factor ingredients being highlighted on labels. I think the nutritional labels need to represent realistic portion sizes. My lunch room deli serves bags of Frito's at lunch that show 10 or 11 grams of fat, but 2.5 servings. I've yet to see one of these bags shared between two or 2.5 people.

suggest easy exercises and simple around the house activites that people can get in the habit of doing that will get them moving. promote family fitness or movement activites introduce yoga to everyone support fitness at the corporate level employers should give time off for fitness like they do for volunteering or class work promote a new food pyramid

There's not much they can do to change the American mindset. We have lots of healthy choices out there already, but many people don't choose them.

Move parking lots further from retail centers.

The Milk Association in an innovative way, Michelob's low carb beer

Marketers per se aren't responsible for formulating the foods - they are, however, responsible for the research, testing etc, that figures out that people like the taste of fatty, salty, sweet foods more than lower fat, lower salt, lower sugar foods - this is a no brainer. They also develop very impressive marketing and advertising campaigns designed to get consumers to sit still and do nothing physical - CD's, DVD's, movies, computer/video games, TV shows etc. Marketers should do research to f

stop creating macdonald's eating establishments and instead encourage mom's to make food at home OR create a "fast food" resteraunt which is good for you.

to promote natural meals. to inform about fat desease and hurt attacks. to enfasis in helth with very good and convincent advertising.

Reduce the cost of healthier foods. Consumers make a choice of what they purchase (thus consume) partially based upon price. Cheaper foods are normally less healthy.

Follow Kraft's lead in promoting healthier portion sizes and packaging. "Supersizing" is unhealthy and unnecessary. Create an up to date version of the Nutritional Pyramid. Use a points-based system similar to Weight Watchers, and include the point values on packaging and menus.

what do you mean by "marketer?" Would that be manufacturers or advertisiers or who? Media should have big impact. Manufacturers should advertise they want a healthy America and go for that in all they do.

Work with organizations like the American Dietetic Association (eatright.org) to promote what constitutes a healthy diet/lifestyle. Marketers can help but utimately someone makes a decision on what to eat and what not to eat.

I believe they should manufacture enough options so that if you want to eat better for a healthier lifestyle, there are choices that you can make. But ultimately, the choice to live your life healthy or unhealthy is yours.

The same thing they do for cars and everything else...get a darn celebrity to endorse it. Or a naked woman or a baby. All of these stupid tactics work because consumers are a dumb lot and would probably not take showers if the commercials on TV didn't tell them to.

Nothing - it all about choice - and we have so much choice now that consumers can decide what to buy, what is good for them, etc. without marketing "lectures". If consumers did not want it for whatever reason, they would not buy it. Marketing - assumed to be advertising, packaging, POS promo, PR - creates awareness, but it does not force anyone to actually buy. Consumers make the purchase decisions - based on preference not marketing. Companies do have a responsibility to educate consum

Education -- better information on web sites, etc, but producing healthier foods is more important.

Promote activity. In order for anyone to stay healthy, exercise is critical.

More education! And more honest talk about balanced lifestyles. It's time that marketing starting educating instead of selling.

As a "good will" measure, companies could help fund programs geared toward nutrition education, childhood fitness programs, etc. Nutrition labels could define what areas of the food pyramid a particular product plays in (i.e. 1/2 serving veggie, 4 servings starch).