Since 1980, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have worked jointly to develop guidelines to help Americans eat a more balanced diet. Every five years, the two departments publish "The Dietary Guidelines for Americans." In 2005, not only were new guidelines established, but also the Food Pyramid - the government's suggestions about the amounts of each food group people should eat - was drastically changed for the first time since 1992. The rise in American obsesity and new medical issues were just some of the reasons why the food pyramid changed.
With the rise of obesity in America and an explosion in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, health care professionals called for a change in the government's dietary recommendations. Dietitians were particularly outspoken in their belief that the food pyramid did not do enough to help the population understand what, and how much, of each type of food should be eaten.
To develop the new guidelines, the USDA brought together a panel of independent experts to consider volumes of research. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman explained in a joint HHS-USDA press conference, "This was the first time we used an evidence-based approach to reviewing research for this update, resulting in recommendations that are being made on a preponderance of research."
In addition to the panel of experts, five public meetings were held to help everyone understand the process being utilized and the research being used, with both written and oral comments solicited from the public along the way. The findings and recommendations of the panel were summarized in a report that was given to the public in August 2004. From that summary came a draft of the dietary guidelines that was given to a peer-review group of federal scientists.
Heads of both agencies addressed the epidemic of obesity in America and how the new guidelines were meant to have a positive impact on that trend. At the joint press conference, HHS secretary Tommy Thompson stated, "The guidelines offer Americans achievable goals for controlling weight, building stronger muscles and bones, and preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers."
Veneman added, "The new dietary guidelines are part of the ongoing effort to help Americans adopt and keep healthier lifestyles and to address the epidemic of overweight and obesity that is affecting so many, especially our nation's children."
The new food pyramid, which in some ways looks as if the old food pyramid was turned on its side, promotes physical activity and whole grains rather than processed flours. The old food pyramid was a one-size-fits-all sort of tool, whereas the updated model is interactive, based on age, weight and health.
 | No longer limited to the four food groups, MyPyramid takes physical activity and the importance of good fats into account when making recommendations. Use MyPyramid to help you define, shop for, prepare and eat the number of servings you need from each food group each day. |
 | You probably don't want to eat brown rice with every meal, but you certainly do want to eat healthfully. |
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