New dietary guidelines announced

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius have announced the release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

These guidelines are the federal government's evidence-based nutritional guidance to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases and reduce the prevalence of overweightness and obesity through improved nutrition and physical activity.

Because more than one-third of children and more than two-thirds of adults in the US are overweight or obese, the 7th edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans places stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity.

"The 2010 dietary guidelines are being released at a time when the majority of adults and one in three children is overweight or obese and this is a crisis that we can no longer ignore," said Secretary Vilsack. "These new and improved dietary recommendations give individuals the information to make thoughtful choices of healthier foods in the right portions and to complement those choices with physical activity. The bottom line is that most Americans need to trim our waistlines to reduce the risk of developing diet-related chronic disease. Improving our eating habits is not only good for every individual and family, but also for our country."

The 2010 guidelines focus on balancing calories with physical activity; encouraging Americans to consume more healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood; and to consume less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars and refined grains.

"Helping Americans incorporate these guidelines into their everyday lives is important to improving the overall health of the American people," said HHS Secretary Sebelius. "The new dietary guidelines provide concrete action steps to help people live healthier, more physically active and longer lives."

The guidelines include 23 key recommendations for the general population and six additional key recommendations for specific population groups, such as women who are pregnant.

Key recommendations are the most important messages within the guidelines in terms of their implications for improving public health. The recommendations are intended as an integrated set of advice to achieve an overall healthy eating pattern. To get the full benefit, all Americans should carry out the dietary guidelines recommendations in their entirety.

More consumer-friendly advice and tools, including a next-generation food pyramid, will be released by USDA and HHS in the coming months. Below is a preview of some of the tips that will be provided to help consumers translate the dietary guidelines into their everyday lives:

• Enjoy your food, but eat less
• Avoid oversized portions
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals - and choose the foods with lower numbers
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks

The guidelines will form the basis of nutrition education programs, federal nutrition assistance programs such as school meals programs and Meals on Wheels programs for seniors, and dietary advice provided by health professionals.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines are available at www.dietaryguidelines.gov.