The experts developing the next federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans have the nations obesity epidemic squarely in their crosshairs. Linda V. Van Horn, PhD, RD, LD, of Northwestern University, chair of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, said in presenting the groups recommendations, The most important issue is that this set of guidelines is addressing an unhealthy American public for the first time. The obesity epidemic is priority number one, and every single thing in this report is focused on addressing that problem up front.The 13-member committee, which includes Tufts Miriam Nelson, PhD, made its recommendations to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). After a public comment period, the agencies will then finalize the recommendations and issue the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans before the end of the year. The guidelines, last updated in 2005, are revised every five years to reflect the latest scientific thinking.Despite the call to arms against obesity, the actual intake recommendations contain only a few changes from 2005:
- Saturated fat limits were reduced from 10% of total daily calories to 7%, with an emphasis on substituting more healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Dietary cholesterol numbers stayed unchanged at 300 milligrams daily for healthy adults and under 200 milligrams for those at risk of heart disease.
- Trans fat intake has been halved, from 1% to 0.5%, to reflect the goal of minimizing consumption of these heartunhealthy fats.
- Recommended sodium intake was also slashed, from 2,300 milligrams daily to 1,500 milligrams, which was already the guideline for those most at risk of chronic disease. The experts urged increased intake of potassium, which can help counter sodiums blood-pressure effects.
- Recommendations for seafood intake have been sharpened, calling for two four-ounce servings per week with the goal of averaging 250 milligrams daily of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA.
- Although guidelines for protein and carbohydrate consumption are little changed, the expert panel called for a shift to a more plant-based diet and a focus on nutrient-rich rather than energy-dense foods.
Van Horn added, Recognizing underconsumption of key nutrients like dietary fiber will go a long way toward helping people consume the nutrients they are missing by shifting intake toward lower-energy but higher nutrient-dense foods.Look for complete coverage of the dietary guidelines as theyre finalized in upcoming issues of the Healthletter.