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NEWS RELEASE

April 15, 2004
For immediate release

Contact:
Christa Dickey
cdickey@acsm.org

CALCIUM CAN BE KEY TO WEIGHT LOSS
ACSM Sports Nutrition Expert Promotes Increased Calcium Intake as a Safe
and Effective Agent for Weight Loss

ORLANDO – Calcium from low-fat dairy products or taken as a supplement can help promote weight loss. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) sports nutrition expert Stella L. Volpe, Ph.D., RD, FACSM, Volpe cited recent trials in which participants who had lost more weight had ingested more calcium today in a speech today at ACSM’s eighth Annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition in Orlando.

"It is very exciting to be able to promote something people can and should ingest that can actually lead to weight coming off,” said Volpe. “Too often, our weight loss advice centers on eliminating foods from the diet, or in the case of some, promoting dangerous supplements.”

Volpe, an associate professor and Miriam Stirl Term Endowed Chair in Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, explains the importance of proper calcium intake by offering evidence that if enough calcium is consumed into the body, a breakdown of fat may occur. She adds that if we do not consume the proper amount of calcium (about 1000 to 1300 mg/day on average), the inverse may result and the calcium that is present in the body may help increase the production of fat within our fat cells.

Athletes who participate in sports like wrestling and rowing where weight management is key stand to gain the most from calcium. They could use calcium to assist in weight maintenance and still reap the more commonly known benefits such as the promotion of bone strength and the prevention of osteoporosis. And in the case of low-fat dairy products such as skim milk and yogurt, the benefits also include hydration and Vitamin-D.

Volpe says there are still unanswered questions about calcium, such as the specific amount of daily calcium to recommend for weight loss. She suggests that the current daily recommended allowance of four low-fat dairy servings be the minimum. Also, it is unclear if the same weight loss benefits would be achieved by ingesting calcium from sources other than dairy, such as leafy vegetables, fortified orange juice and soy products.

ACSM’s Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition is going on now at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld. For more information on the event, or to speak with staff in the on-site press office, please call (407) 235-7247.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 International, National and Regional members are dedicated to promoting and integrating scientific research, education and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health and quality of life.

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The American College of Sports Medicine gratefully acknowledges the following Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition sponsors: LifeFitness (Premier Sponsor), Gatorade Sports Science Institute, Gatorade, Reebok (Educational Partner), Amino Vital, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EAS, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, BSDI, and SPRI Products, Inc.