The first year that the USDA and HHS released the publication "The Dietary Guidelines for Americans" was in 1980. The guidelines reflected emerging scientific evidence about diet and health. The ultimate goal is to improve the health of our Nation's current and future generations by facilitating and promoting healthy eating and physical activity choices so that these behaviors become the norm amount all individuals. By law, the Dietary Guidelines are reviewed, updated if needed, and published every 5 years.
The most recent data indicate that 72% of men and 64% of women are overweight or obese, with about 1/3 of adults being obese. (1) Approximately 32% of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are overweight or obese, with 17% of children being obese. (2)
Because of these staggering statistics found in the most recent research, the focus in 2010 is on health promotion and disease risk reduction to hit these diet-related chronic diseases: Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, Cancer, and Osteoporosis.
'Balancing Calories to Manage Weight', 'Foods and Food Components to Reduce', 'Foods and Nutrients to Increase', 'Building Healthy Eating Patterns', 'Helping Americans Make Healthy Choices' are the chapters covered in this edition of the Dietary Guidelines. For a full report on the USDA's 2010 Dietary Guidelines click here.
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) states that it supports the Dietary Guidelines "healthy balance" approach to weight management. For more on the position of ADA, click here.
(1) Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Curtin LR. Prevalence and trends in obesity among U.S. adults, 199-2008. JAMA. 2010; 303(3): 235-241.
(2) Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Lamb MM, Flegal KM. Prevalence of high body mass index in U.S. children and adolescents, 2007-2008. JAMA. 2010; 303(3): 242-249.
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