New government dietary guidelines released: What are the key recommendations?

(Examiner.com) — The USDA’s (United States Department of Agriculture) Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion released the federal government’s official 2010 update to dietary recommendations. It was the first update since 2005. The new guidelines can be found at DietaryGuidelines.gov

The Executive Summary of the report made the following specific recommendations to help the country deal with it’s current obesity and overweight epidemic:

• Prevent and/or reduce overweight and obesity through improved eating and physical activity behaviors.
• Control total calorie intake to manage body weight. For people who are overweight or obese, this will mean consuming fewer calories from foods and beverages.
• Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors.
• Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life—childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and older age.