New committee for new dietary guidelines?
committee responsible for reviewing the national dietary guidelines
in 2005, and with recent reports from the IoM and WHO, they are
likely to propose some revisions.
Thirteen leading nutrition experts have been appointed to the committee responsible for reviewing the national dietary guidelines, due to be updated in 2005.
Based on the latest scientific and medical knowledge, the guidelines aim to inform the public on ways to improve health through proper nutrition.
The committee advises the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on any nutritional and dietary revisions necessary to the guidelines before they are republished, and are also responsible for ensuring that the science behind the guidelines is translated in a user-friendly, easily understandable format.
"The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the cornerstone of nationwide nutritional and dietary programs and policies, and will become increasingly significant as we continue to wage battles against obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses," Secretary Tommy Thompsonsaid.
Dr Rhona Appelbaum, executive vice president of the National Food Processors Association, said: "The key challenge will be to present the recommendations and information contained in the guidelines so they actually motivate consumers to incorporate them into their daily lives, and use them to create healthful diets and lifestyles."
"The Dietary Guidelines should be scientifically based, easily understood, easily implemented, and trigger behavioral change, with a focus on the guidelines dealing with weight and physical activity. Triggering changed behavior by consumers will require input from behavioral scientists - a discipline not historically called upon for input on these guidelines," she added.
The guidelines currently advise a healthy weight, taking daily exercise, use of the Pyramid guide for daily diet, including a variety of grains and fruits and vegetables, low intake of saturated fatand cholesterol, a moderate sugar intake, less salt and moderate alcohol consumption.
The committee will need to examine the new Dietary Reference Intakes by the Institute of Medicine, the World Health Organization report on Diet,Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases and other recentscientific research. It will meet in early fall to prepare for the release of the 2005 version of Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Designated members include Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition atPennsylvania State University, and a member of the Institute of Medicine's Panel on Dietary ReferenceIntakes for Macronutrients and Joanne R. Lupton, Professor of Animal Science, Food Science andTechnology, Nutritional Sciences, and of Veterinary Anatomy and PublicHealth at Texas A&M University, who served aschair of the recently released Macronutrient Report from the DietaryReference Intakes Committee of the National Academy of Sciences. She is also thechair for the National Academy of Science panel to determine the definitionof dietary fiber.
