Nutritional Guidelines

HHS, USDA unveil preliminary dietary guidelines.
ABC World News (6/15, story 5, 1:40, Sawyer) reported that on Tuesday, "a government panel issued a brand new plea for all of us to change how we eat." ABC (Davis) added, "Nutritionists say obesity is the biggest threat to public health. In the last 30 years, obesity rates for kids have tripled."
The Los Angeles Times (6/16, Zajac) reports, "The Department of Agriculture issued new guidelines Tuesday for improving the nation's diet, but the main recommendations are steps Americans have so far largely avoided -- cutting back on salt, sugar and saturated fats, and consuming more fruits and vegetables." While "the preliminary version of the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans is not much different from recommendations issued 30 years ago," the "growing mountain of evidence linking an overweight, sedentary lifestyle to disease and high medical costs may give the new guide added urgency."
USA Today (6/16, Hellmich) notes, "The report is based on the latest scientific evidence and was prepared by a 13-member panel of national nutrition and health experts. The public now has 30 days to comment at www.dietaryguidelines.gov." Meanwhile, the final version of the "guidelines will be released later this year by the US Department of Agriculture" and HHS.
The AP (6/16, Jalonick) explains that the "panel, appointed by the Agriculture and Health and Human Services Departments, makes dietary recommendations every five years that serve as the basis for the government's popular food pyramid and for a range of federal nutrition programs, including school lunches." The new guidelines follow "the prestigious Institute of Medicine, which said earlier this year that people need just 1,500 mg [of salt] daily for good health, less if they're over 50. Average consumption is more than 3,400 mg."
The Wall Street Journal (6/16, Gray) reports that the guidelines recommend that all Americans consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day. Currently, the recommendation is 2,300 milligrams for most people, and 1,500 for those with health conditions such as hypertension. In addition, the guidelines state that children's intake of fats and sugary drinks should be limited, while their level of exercise should be increased.