On January 31, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced the release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010.  We are pleased to share these evidence-based guidelines with the physical activity community.  The guidelines offer nutrition guidance to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases and reduce overweight and obesity through improved nutrition and physical activity. 

This new version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 places stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity to help with confronting the obesity epidemic.

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus on balancing calories with physical activity, and encourage Americans to consume more nutrient dense foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood, and to consume less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and refined grains.  These guidelines continue to advise the public to consume alcohol in moderation, if at all.  The Dietary Guidelines physical activity recommendations are from the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

The new guidelines also include a call to action for helping Americans make healthy choices for lifelong healthy eating, physical activity, and weight management.  We encourage physical activity organizations and practitioners to take an active role in the movement to make American healthy by using these new guidelines in your communities and by helping Americans bring the key recommendations into their lives. 

To learn more about the guidelines visit: www.dietaryguidelines.gov.

Please join us as we ensure that all Americans have access to actionable information about how to incorporate the guidelines into their lives, nutritious foods, and opportunities for physical activity.

How does your organization envision using the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans?