Home | Events | Veg'ism | Join us | Site map | Contact

Countering Diet-Related Illnesses in Washington, DC

A Report of the Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia

November 2006

Table of Contents

• About the Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia
• Diet-Related Illnesses in Washington, DC
• Recommendations to Improve Health
• VSDC Programs and Activities
• Selected Resource Organizations
• VSDC Membership

About the Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia

The Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia (VSDC) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that was founded on October 15, 1927, making it the oldest vegetarian society in North America.VSDC is also one of the largest and most active vegetarian societies in the United States. Its mission is to promote the benefits of vegetarianism through educational and social activities throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

Over the course of VSDC's history, health has been a major emphasis. In the 1960s, VSDC promoted better living by popularizing healthful and ethical vegetarianism, diet reform, natural agriculture, and abstinence from drugs and narcotics.

In recent years, VSDC launched the VSDC Eat Smart Program to bring nutrition information to the community. Financial support for the program has been provided by the Consumer Health Foundation, the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health, Kaiser Permanente, and the DC Escheated Estates Fund.

VSDC also distributes free nutrition information at major events, including the NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo, the National Council of Negro Women's National Black Family Reunion, the Washington DC Green Festival, and the Takoma Park Street Festival. In addition, the organization hosts periodic lectures and presentations by national experts in the fields of health, nutrition, environmental issues related to animal agribusiness, and animal concerns.

Approximately 250 people enjoy VSDC's annual life-affirming Thanksgiving Celebration each year. Held at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda on Thanksgiving Day, this gala event brings together vegetarians and non-vegetarians to enjoy a gourmet vegan buffet in a festive setting.

VSDC publishes a quarterly newsletter, VSDC News, and conducts restaurant visits, book club meetings, raw vegan potlucks, African-American Networking Group gatherings, and GLBT Veg Out Group gatherings.VSDC members receive discounts from restaurants and other businesses through the VSDC Green Rewards program.

VSDC activities are open to the public, and almost all are free or low cost.

Diet-Related Illnesses in Washington, DC

Overweight, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles are serious threats to the health of the residents of the District of Columbia. In 2000, according to District of Columbia State Health Profile by the State Center for Health Statistics Administration (December 2003), almost a third (31.7%) of District residents were overweight (with a Body Mass Index of 25.0 to 29.9), a fifth (21.5%) were obese (with a Body Mass Index equal to or greater than 30.0), and a fifth (20.8%) reported no physical activity on a regular basis. The consequences can be tragic: Obesity is a risk factor for hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Similarly, physical inactivity is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure.

Chronic diseases and health conditions related to poor nutrition and lack of physical activity/exercise are among the ten leading causes of death in Washington, DC. Data from the State Center for Health Statistics Administration indicate that heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension accounted for well over half (59.8%) of all local deaths in 2000.

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Washington, DC (26.3%), killing 1,566 residents in 2000. Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and smoking.
• Cancer is a condition in which cells multiply out of control and produce tumors and is the second leading cause of death in Washington, DC (22.4%). In 2000, 1,329 residents died due to cancer. Dietary factors associated with a greater risk of cancer include high fat intake (especially animal fat), low fiber intake, and high alcohol intake.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the third leading cause of death in Washington, DC (4.0%). It is also a risk factor for other serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and renal (kidney) failure. In 2000, there were 236 deaths caused by this condition. High intake of sodium (salt) is one of the main causes of this silent killer.
• Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Washington, DC (3.8%), killing 226 residents in 2000. In stroke, a blocked blood vessel causes a part of the brain to die, often leading to paralysis, loss of sensory function, or death. Stroke is caused by the same factors that lead to heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and smoking.
• Diabetes is a debilitating condition in which insufficient insulin is available to transport glucose into the body's cells. It is the seventh leading cause of death in Washington, DC (3.3%), killing 196 residents in 2000. Obesity and a diet high in fat can trigger diabetes in those with a predisposition to the disease. Diabetes is one of the top risk factors for heart disease, and diabetics may also suffer from kidney problems, vision disorders, and amputations.

The populations that are disproportionately afflicted by these conditions include African Americans, Latinos, women, and low-income individuals.

Healthy People 2010 – the federal government's set of health objectives for the United States to meet by the year 2010 – is designed to achieve two goals: to help individuals of all ages increase life expectancy and improve their quality of life, and to eliminate health disparities among different segments of the population. As noted in Healthy People 2010:

Disparities in health status indicators and risk factors for diet-related disease are evident in many segments of the population based on gender, age, race and ethnicity, and income. For example, overweight and obesity are observed in all population groups, but obesity is particularly common among Hispanic, African American, Native American, and Pacific Islander women....

Disparities in levels of physical activity exist among population groups. The proportion of the population reporting no leisure-time physical activity is higher among women than men, higher among African Americans and Hispanics than whites, ... and higher among the less affluent than the more affluent.... In general, persons with lower levels of education and income are least active in their leisure time.

These groups comprise large segments of Washington, DC's population. In fact, according to Census 2000, the population of Washington, DC is 60% Black and 8% Latino. It is also 53% female. Furthermore, 18% of all adults over age 25 have not earned a high school diploma or equivalency; 18% of all individuals — — and 30% of families with children — live below the poverty level; and 23% of all households receive public assistance or noncash benefits, including Food Stamps. It is these populations that are at greatest risk:

• During the period of 1997-2001, the rate of overweight in the District of Columbia was 39.2% for males and 27% for females; however, the obesity rate was 22.1% for females, compared to 15.4% for males.
• In 2000, females in the District of Columbia reported higher rates of physical inactivity (23.6%) than males (17.5%).
• Less than a third of White, African-American, and Latino adults (32.1%, 31.1%, and 30% respectively) reported eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day in 2000.
• The death rate from heart disease for Blacks was 346 per 100,000 compared to 202.2 for Whites in 2000 in the District of Columbia. The death rate was 287.1 for women and 258.8 for men.
• The District of Columbia has the highest cancer rate and ranks higher overall in cancer mortality rates in the United States. Incidence and mortality rates are highest among African Americans.
• In the District of Columbia, African Americans are more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke as Whites. Regardless of race, more women die of stroke than men, and more women die of stroke than breast cancer. The death rate for women was 44.3 per 100,000 in 2000, compared to 34.2 for men.
• Adult African Americans are 1.7 times as likely to have diabetes as Whites, and Latinos are twice as likely as Whites.

Healthy People 2010 contains 28 Focus Areas. The goal of Focus Area 19, Nutrition and Overweight, is to promote health and reduce chronic disease associated with diet and weight. According to Healthy People 2010:

Nutritional, or dietary, factors contribute substantially to the burden of preventable illnesses and premature deaths in the United States. Indeed, dietary factors are associated with 4 of the 10 leading causes of death: coronary heart disease (CHD), some types of cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These health conditions are estimated to cost society over $200 billion each year in medical expenses and lost productivity....

Many dietary components are involved in the relationship between nutrition and health. A primary concern is consuming too much saturated fat and too few vegetables, fruits, and grain products that are high in vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates (starch and dietary fiber), and other substances that are important to good health....

Persons who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and some types of cancer. The health outcomes related to these diseases, however, often can be improved through weight loss or, at a minimum, no further weight gain. Total costs (medical costs and lost productivity) attributable to obesity alone amounted to an estimated $99 billion in 1995....

The goal of Focus Area 22, Physical Activity and Fitness, is to improve health, fitness, and quality of life through daily physical activity. According to Healthy People 2010:

Physically inactive people are almost twice as likely to develop CHD [coronary heart disease] as persons who engage in regular physical activity.The risk posed by physical inactivity is almost as high as several well-known CHD risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol. Physical inactivity, though, is more prevalent than any one of these other risk factors.

Despite the grim statistics, there is good news. Research has consistently shown that diet-related chronic illnesses can be prevented, managed, or eliminated through dietary solutions and behavioral changes. The United States Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, American Dietetic Association, and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine are among the many experts that have concluded that an optimum diet consists of a wide variety of plant foods and limits or eliminates meat and other animal products.

Recommendations to Improve Health

In Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Vegetarian Diets (2006), the American Dietetic Association states,

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases....Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals.Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.... Dietetics professionals have a responsibility to support and encourage those who express an interest in consuming a vegetarian diet.

Although animal products contain some nutrients, their benefits are offset by: excess protein that can lead to osteoporosis, kidney disease, kidney stones, and some cancers; artery-clogging cholesterol that leads to heart disease, stroke, and hypertension; high levels of fat, leading to obesity and some types of cancer; and contaminants, such as antibiotics, hormones, and concentrated pesticides. Furthermore, meat and other animal products contain no fiber and are significantly more likely than plant foods to be a source of food poisoning.

Plant foods, on the other hand, contain the wide variety of nutrients needed for the development and health of the human body. For example, dark green leafy vegetables contain vitamin C, fiber, iron, riboflavin, calcium, beta-carotene, and other nutrients. Dark yellow and orange vegetables provide such nutrients as beta-carotene (vitamin A) and fiber. Whole grains are rich sources of fiber, carbohydrates, various B vitamins, zinc, and protein. Fruit is a significant source of fiber, vitamin C, and beta-carotene (vitamin A). Legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) are rich in protein, iron, zinc, vitamin B, iron, calcium, and fiber. At the same time, plant foods are naturally cholesterol free, and most are low in fat. Fruits and vegetables contain many cancer-fighting substances, including carotenoids, beta-carotene, flavones, indoles, and antioxidants.

The 2005 federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends, among other things, that persons aged two years and older:

• Consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages within and among the basic food groups while choosing foods that limit the intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt, and alcohol.
• Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. In particular, select from all five vegetable subgroups (dark green, orange, legumes, starchy vegetables, and other vegetables) several times a week.
• Consume three or more ounce-equivalents of whole-grain products per day, with the rest of the recommended grains coming from enriched or whole-grain products. In general, at least half the grains should come from whole grains.
• Choose fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains often.
• Choose to prepare foods with little salt. At the same time, consume potassium-rich fruits and vegetables.

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans also includes recommendations for physical activity. Key recommendations for persons aged two years and older include:

• Engage in regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote health, psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight.
• Achieve physical fitness by including cardiovascular conditioning, stretching exercises for flexibility, and resistance exercises or calisthenics for muscle strength and endurance.

According to Healthy People 2010:

Research has demonstrated that virtually all individuals will benefit from regular physical activity. A Surgeon General's report on physical activity and health concluded that moderate physical activity can reduce substantially the risk of developing or dying from heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. Physical activity also may protect against lower back pain and some forms of cancer (for example, breast cancer), but the evidence is not yet conclusive.

The role of physical activity in preventing coronary heart disease (CHD) is of particular importance, given that CHD is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States.... People with other risk factors for CHD, such as obesity and high blood pressure, may particularly benefit from physical activity.

Healthy People 2010 makes the following recommendations:

Public education efforts need to address the specific barriers that inhibit the adoption and maintenance of physical activity by different population groups.... Each person should recognize that starting out slowly with an activity that is enjoyable and gradually increasing the frequency and duration of the activity are central to the adoption and maintenance of physical activity behavior. Along with the public education efforts, public programs in a variety of settings (recreation centers, worksites, health care settings, and schools) need to be developed, evaluated, and shared as potential models.The availability of group activities in the community is important for many.

The Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia (VSDC) invites you to participate in our educational activities designed to inform the public about why and how to work toward a healthy, plant-based diet as well as our social activities that support the vegetarian lifestyle. VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path toward an all-plant-based diet.

VSDC Programs and Activities

VSDC Eat Smart Program

Since 2004, the VSDC Eat Smart Program has empowered populations at high risk of developing diet-related disorders with information and strategies to provide healthier diets for themselves and their families. The VSDC Eat Smart Program utilizes some of the same techniques used by the Iowa's WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation) Program, which is identified as an exemplary program by the Centers for Disease Control, Chronic Disease Prevention (State Programs in Action: Exemplary Work to Prevent Chronic Disease and Promote Health, 2004). These techniques include: healthy eating information; skill building; physical activity; healthy snacks; field specialists who have knowledge of the field, are familiar with the population's needs, and have experience working in community settings; and sessions held at familiar, easy-to-access locations such as community centers and libraries.

To ensure that the VSDC Eat Smart Program is based on sound nutritional science, VSDC has established an Advisory Committee that includes:

• Robbie Ali, MD, Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health;
• Michael Greger, MD, Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States;
• Denise Jones, VSDC Eat Smart Program Alumna;
• Milton Mills, MD, Internist, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine;
• Doron Petersan, RD, Proprietor, Sticky Fingers (Vegan) Bakery and certified fitness instructor; and
• Cyndi Reeser, MPH, RD, LD, former Lead Nutritionist, Lipid Research Clinic and Center for Integrative Medicine, George Washington University.

VSDC also employs highly qualified staff to conduct the program.

Over the years, VSDC has conducted the VSDC Eat Smart Program at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, Riverside Center, ROC-North Community Center, Trinity College, and Watha T.Daniels Library. The heart of the program is an eight-week course:

• Nutrition Classes provide participants with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of good nutrition.
• Cooking Classes show participants how to: prepare familiar foods in a more healthful manner; incorporate more fruits and vegetables into the diet; and reduce the amount of meat, dairy products, fat, and salt in the diet.
• Shopping Classes provide practical tips on how to: read food labels; shop for healthful foods in grocery stores and health food stores; and stretch every dollar.
• Eating Out Healthfully Classes help participants make wiser menu choices at fast food and take-out restaurants, and expose them to healthful and affordable alternatives.

Other activities included yoga, video presentations, potluck meals, restaurant visits, and field trips to health food stores and community exercise facilities.

VSDC has found that the VSDC Eat Smart Program is highly effective in educating and changing the dietary habits of participants who complete the program. Each year, VSDC's evaluation of the courses has found that the organization exceeded its objectives related to increases in knowledge and improvements in dietary choices for those individuals who completed the program. In 2006:

• 96% of individuals who completed the final survey reported that their knowledge of the basics of good nutrition has increased substantially;
• 91% reported that their knowledge of how to prepare healthful meals has increased substantially;
• 96% reported that their knowledge of how to shop for healthful foods has increased substantially; and
• 96% reported that their knowledge of how to eat out healthfully has increased substantially.

In addition, 96% reported a substantial improvement in dietary choices for themselves; and 85% of participants (for whom the question was applicable) reported a substantial improvement in dietary choices for their families by the end of the program.

Lectures and Presentations

VSDC periodically hosts presentations with various experts on topics related to vegetarianism. In the past few years, VSDC has had a number of events at which authors have spoken as well as signed books. For example:

• Neal Barnard, MD, author of numerous books, including Breaking the Food Seduction:The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings – and Seven Steps to End Them Naturally, was the keynote speaker at VSDC's annual Thanksgiving Celebration in 2003.
• George Eisman, author of The Most Noble Diet and A Basic Course in Vegetarian and Vegan Nutrition, has served as a faculty member in Dietetics and Nutrition at several universities and colleges and created the first accredited program in Vegetarian Studies. His lecture on Diet and Disease in 2004 drew a large audience including VSDC Eat Smart Program participants.
• Michael Greger, MD, is Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States and author of Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching and Carbophobia. An internationally recognized lecturer, he has spoken at several VSDC events including a 2005 lecture on Diet and Cancer and the VSDC Eat Smart Program graduation ceremonies in 2005 and 2006.
• Howard F. Lyman, author of Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat, has spoken at several VSDC events over the years, including our annual Thanksgiving Celebration. Lyman, a former cattle rancher-turned-vegetarian and food safety activist, revealed on the Oprah Winfrey Show how the cattle industry potentially exposed Americans to Mad Cow Disease. As a result, he was named a co-defendant with Oprah Winfrey in the infamous veggie libel case.

Other Activities

VSDC conducts numerous social and educational events each month that provide members and other interested individuals a chance to learn more about vegetarianism, eat great food, discuss a variety of topics, or simply meet people with shared interests. For example:

• The VSDC Book Club meets monthly, usually at a local vegetarian restaurant, and alternates between fiction and nonfiction. Participants vote on the books to be read and discussed.
• VSDC's monthly raw vegan potlucks are casual gatherings, usually at people's homes in the metropolitan area. Sometimes, there are informal group discussions or presentations.
• VSDC arranges vegetarian and vegan-friendly events for singles in the local area. Interested individuals meet monthly at restaurants, parks, members' homes, and other venues to socialize.
• VSDC hosts monthly visits to local vegetarian or vegetarian-friendly restaurants. Each person orders and pays for her/his own meal directly to the restaurant.
• The GLBT Veg Out group holds monthly social events in Washington, DC, nearby Maryland, and Northern Virginia. GLBT stands for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered. However, the group is open to everyone, and everyone is encouraged to attend.
• VSDC's African American Networking Group arranges periodic social, cultural, and educational events targeted to the Black community, including an annual Kwanzaa celebration. The group is open to everyone, and everyone is encouraged to attend.

To learn more about upcoming VSDC activities, please visit www.vsdc.org or call 202-362-VEGY.

Selected Resource Organizations

Please contact the following organizations or visit their websites for nutrition information, health fact sheets, restaurant guides, vegetarian starter kits, cookbooks, local activities, and other resources:

Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia
P.O. Box 4921
Washington, DC 20008
202-362-VEGY
www.vsdc.org

Compassion Over Killing
P.O. Box 9773
Washington, DC 20016
301-891-2458
info@cok.net
www.cok.net

FARM
10101 Ashburton Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817
888-ASK-FARM
www.farmusa.org

Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-452-1100
www.hsus.org

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
501 Front Street
Norfolk,VA 23510
757-622-PETA
www.peta.org
www.GoVeg.com

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20016
202-686-2210
pcrm@pcrm.org
www.pcrm.org

United Poultry Concerns
P.O. Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405
757-678-7875
info@upc-online.org
www.upc-online.org

Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
410-366-8343
vrg@vrg.org
www.vrg.org

VSDC Membership

Membership dues will increase on April 1, 2007, so please join or renew now!

As a member of VSDC, you will:

• Discover new resources on health, environmental, and ethical concerns
• Get connected with the latest vegetarian events through VSDC News
• Receive valuable discounts at participating restaurants and businesses
• Enjoy the benefits of our diverse social activities
• Build a network to support your values
• Feel glad that you're contributing to an organization that promotes vegetarian living

Yes! Sign me up as a member of VSDC!