1.5 Turning the Tables on Obesity

It is critical for our nation to find ways to reduce overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Fortunately, public health/MCH professionals have an array of expert guidelines, learning opportunities, and culturally sensitive tools to help them achieve this goal, including:

Healthy-eating initiatives aimed at reducing obesity among high-risk populations
Updated guidelines released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Advances in research and information technology

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The 8th edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) focuses on consuming more healthy foods and balancing calories with physical activity.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015 recommends that Americans:

Eat more	Consume Less
Fruit	Sodium
Vegetables	Saturated & trans fats
Whole grains	Refined grains
Seafood	Added sugars

Guidelines and Supporting Key Recommendations of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans include five guidelines with several key recommendations for implementing them.

Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan. All food and beverage choices matter. Choose a healthy eating pattern at an appropriate calorie level to help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, support nutrient adequacy, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount. To meet nutrient needs within calorie limits, choose a variety of nutrient-dense foods across and within all food groups in recommended amounts.
Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake. Consume an eating pattern low in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium. Cut back on foods and beverages higher in these components to amounts that fit within healthy eating patterns.
Shift to healthier food and beverage choices. Choose nutrient-dense foods and beverages across and within all food groups in place of less healthy choices. Consider cultural and personal preferences to make these shifts easier to accomplish and maintain.
Support healthy eating patterns for all. Everyone has a role in helping to create and support healthy eating patterns in multiple settings nationwide, from home to school to work to communities.

Follow a healthy eating pattern that accounts for all foods and beverages within an appropriate calorie level.
A healthy eating pattern includes:

A variety of vegetables from all of the subgroups — dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy, and other
Fruits, especially whole fruits
Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified soy beverages
A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), and nuts, seeds, and soy products
Oils

A healthy eating pattern limits saturated fats and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium.
Key recommendations provide guidance on several components of the diet that should be limited. These components are of particular public health concern in the United States, and the specified limits can help individuals achieve healthy eating patterns:

Consume less than 10 percent of calories per day from added sugars.
Consume less than 10 percent of calories per day from saturated fats.
Consume less than 2300 mg per day of sodium.
If alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation — up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men — and only by adults of legal drinking age. Pregnant women should not consume alcohol.

Source
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (March 24, 2017). Dietary Guidelines. [website]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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