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Nation’s Diet In Crisis With
Nearly Everyone Failing to
Meet Basic Dietary Guidelines
Nearly the entire US population fails to eat a diet
in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,
according to new research published in the
"Journal of Nutrition."
The researchers, from the National Cancer Institute
and the National Center for Nutrition Policy and
Promotion, examined 2001-2004 NHANES (National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data including
16,338 individuals’ dietary habits.
They found that more than 80 percent of those aged 71
and above, and more than 90 percent of all other age
groups of both sexes, over-consumed discretionary
calories - those that come from solid fats, added sugars
and alcohol. A majority did not meet the “MyPyramid”
recommendations for every food group except total grains
and meat and beans, the researchers found.
Nearly everyone failed to meet recommendations for dark
green vegetables, orange vegetables, legumes, and whole
grains, which were the groups with the lowest adherence to
recommendations.
“In conclusion, nearly the entire US population consumes
a diet that is not on par with recommendations. These
findings add another piece to the rather disturbing picture
that is emerging of a nation’s diet in crisis,” the authors wrote.
Young adults were most likely to fall short of recommendations
for fruits, milk and oils, and those aged 31 to 50 were most
likely to drink too much alcohol.
The authors also wrote that nutrient-poor energy sources
seemed to be displacing nutrient-rich ones.
“The poor quality of Americans’ diets evident from this
analysis is consistent not only with high rates of obesity and
overweight but also food insecurity, which is characterized by
compromises in diet quality and variety,” they explained.
Moreover, the researchers applied their findings to the
US food supply, which they said has oversupplied solid
fats, added sugars, and sodium, and undersupplied fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and milk over at least the past
several decades.
“The stark contrasts observed between the diets of
Americans as well as the US food supply and current
dietary guidance underscore the need for individual - level
and environmental - level interventions to facilitate healthier
dietary intake patterns,” the authors concluded.
“Without such interventions, the diets of most U.S. adults
and children will continue to be markedly divergent from
recommendations, a worrisome state in the context of the
obesity epidemic and alarming rates of other diet-related
chronic diseases.”
Source: The Journal of Nutrition
“Americans Do Not Meet Federal Dietary Recommendations”
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