Table of Contents
FDA Consumer magazine
September-October 2000
by Linda Bren
"...Those desiring to lose weight should perform hard work before food. They should take their meals after exertion and while still panting from fatigue...They should, moreover, eat only once a day and take no baths and sleep on a hard bed and walk naked as long as possible."
--Hippocrates, the father of medicine, on his philosophy about dieting
Theories on the weight-loss benefits of walking around naked and not bathing have not proved out, but Hippocrates' other dietary advice isn't completely off the wall. While perhaps not the healthiest advice, Hippocrates' recommendations do show that even 2,400 years ago, the relationship between food intake and energy expenditure was recognized.
Today, insight into the relationship between eating and exercise still plays a significant role in determining dietary recommendations. The new "Dietary Guidelines for Americans," which President Clinton first announced in his radio address to the nation in the spring, rely on current knowledge about weight, nutrition and physical activity. Calling them the "gold standard of nutritional information," Clinton said the guidelines are part of the federal government's efforts to "empower Americans with the latest and best information on food and nutrition."
The President's speech kicked off the release of the new dietary guidelines, the 5th edition, at the National Nutrition Summit held in Washington, D.C., on May 30 and 31. The first national nutrition meeting in more than 30 years, the summit was co-sponsored by the two federal departments that produced the guidelines: the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture.
DHHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D., said the new guidelines "offer more practical advice and scientific information than ever before to help American consumers make the smartest possible decisions when it comes to what we eat."
The Food and Drug Administration is a major user of the guidelines, according to Elizabeth Yetley, Ph.D., lead scientist in FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "We use them to address food labeling issues as well as to develop FDA's nutrition policies and guidelines."
The guidelines give 10 recommendations, compared to seven in past editions. For ease of understanding, the recommendations are grouped within three areas that the guidelines call the ABCs of good health:
The new guidelines place more emphasis than in previous editions on being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight. At the nutrition summit, Shalala stated that nearly 55 percent of all adults and 10 percent of all children in America are overweight. Being overweight increases a person's risk for many chronic conditions and diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, breathing problems, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.
The current guidelines contain a Body Mass Index (BMI) chart, which replaces the weight-for-height chart found in previous editions. A calculation based on weight and height, BMI is used by health professionals to help determine if a patient is overweight, obese, or at a healthy weight.
For the first time ever, the guidelines address food safety, particularly the need to store and prepare foods safely in the home. FDA works in concert with USDA and other federal agencies to combat foodborne illness, an important public health concern.
As in previous editions, the guidelines continue to emphasize balance, moderation, and variety in food choices. They recommend eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and choosing a diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. They also advise moderating sugar and total fat intake. The guidelines give specific examples of foods that provide certain nutrients, and include choices for vegetarians.
First published in 1980 and revised every five years by law, the guidelines are based on the recommendations of a scientific advisory group of 11 non-government experts. The guidelines are used by federal agencies to determine, among other things, standards for the nutritional content of the lunches served every day in school to 26 million children.
The dietary guidelines give consumers the information they need to select the right kinds and amounts of food. But, ultimately, it is up to consumers to take action and follow the guidelines' advice. "Government can shine the spotlight and direct resources to solving the problems of obesity and poor nutrition," says USDA Secretary Daniel Glickman, "but only individuals can commit themselves to good nutrition and good health."
Consumers can download the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" from the Internet at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/. For a printed copy, send your name, address and 50 cents by check or money order to: Consumer Information Center, Department 378-C, Pueblo, CO 81009.
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