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CNN Live Today
Study Links Pizza to Obesity
Aired May 17, 2002 - 13:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The story is perfect for a Friday afternoon: Americans consume $30 billion worth of pizza every year. And any college freshman will tell you there's no such thing as a bad pizza -- amen to that. According to the latest consumer study, pizza, though, may not be very good for you -- surprise.
Rea Blakey, our medical correspondent, checking into this.
I don't think a whole lot of folks are shocked. What are we learning -- Rea.
REA BLAKEY, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: A) We're learning that you better allow more time to order your pizza, because we ordered one 90 minutes ago for delivery, and it's not here yet. But nonetheless, the renowned "food police," the Center for Science in the Public Interest, want you to know that the very food that some dietitians claim is in fact nutritious because it does contain four of the food groups is also clogging arteries and contributing to America's obesity problems.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAYNE HURLEY, SENIOR NUTRITIONIST, CSPI: The crust and the sauce aren't to blame; it's the layer of saturated fat in the cheese. More cheese on your pizza means more crust in your arteries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLAKEY: So the Center for Science in the Public Interest says stuffed crusts are the worst. The culprit, obviously, the extra cheese.
Now take, for example, a stuffed crust pepperoni pie. Eat just two slices of that, and you've got a day's worth of saturated fat and sodium.
BLAKEY: So the CSPI analyzed 15 popular kinds of pizzas at 36 different pizzerias in Washington and Chicago and L.A.
And we're about to show you three comparisons, all of the same brand, which show even if you do order stuffed crust, some are nutritionally better than others. Now, these are all Pizza Hut stuffed-crust pies. Two slices makes a serving. The ham version, just 660 calories, 26 grams of fat -- 12 of those saturated grams of fat. Now the stuffed-crust with cheese as the topping weighs in at 720 calories, 32 grams of fat -- it's the cheese -- half of them from saturated fat, which is the worst.
And the stuffed-crust Meat Lover's pizza -- hold on to your hat -- it tips the scales at 830 calories, 42 grams of fat, nearly half of them saturated grams.
BLAKEY: Now, the food police are also recommending what they consider the most nutritious pizza pies.
I have here with me Pizza Hut's hand-tossed Veggie Lover's pizza. Also on that list is Papa John's original crust Garden Special and Domino's hand-tossed cheese -- but that's only good if you order it with half the cheese. So keep in mind it's the cheese that's the real culprit there. Eating just two slices of this pizza, which is the Veggie Lover's, would be much better nutritional choice than any stuffed pie crust. And to simplify the whole thing, ask for half the cheese on your pie: the less cheese, the more nutritious.
HEMMER: That's no fun.
BLAKEY: And -- well, come on, Bill. For toppings, try veggies -- they're the best. Then if you have to have some kind of meat, try a chicken or a ham. Food police say don't even think of anything with a meat combo or the sides, like those bread sticks, the wings, the cheesy bread. You're ruining your heart.
HEMMER: Loading up on the carbs.
BLAKEY: That's what they say.
HEMMER: Is that the pizza that you've waited 90 minutes for Rea?
BLAKEY: That was it, and it is not warm any more.
HEMMER: Did it just arrive, really, during this live shot?
BLAKEY: It just arrived, literally. Someone walked it in to me. Can I tell you about a little opposition though, Bill?
HEMMER: You sure can.
BLAKEY: The National Restaurant Association is familiar with these events by the CSPI, and they say it's another feeble attempt to use scare tactics to have people avoid going to restaurants.
And Pizza Hut, from which we just had that pizza, said eat sensibly, combined with appropriate exercise. And that is the best solution for a healthy lifestyle. Probably good advice from Pizza Hut.
HEMMER: Probably. Really. Yes. Go back to the story that we were watching there, Rea. Are these the same folks that warned us about Chinese food? BLAKEY: They are. They warned us about Chinese. They warned us about foods in shopping malls. They warned us about hamburgers and all kinds of take-out, which is why the restaurant association is familiar with them.
But also keep in mind that these folks are trying to get people to just be more mindful about their eating in general. Sometimes they go a little over the top, if you will.
HEMMER: Bottom line, moderation is a good thing, right?
BLAKEY: And plenty of exercise.
HEMMER: We can agree on both those of those.
Thank you, Rea. Have a great weekend,
BLAKEY: You too
HEMMER: And I think you can find a microwave for that pizza somewhere, somewhere there in D.C.
BLAKEY: And some people to eat it.
HEMMER: I'm sure of that too.
Thank you Rea. Talk to you later.
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