Why New Guidelines?

Need help making smart choices about your nutrition and overall health? The new dietary guidelines, issued in January 2005 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are designed to do just that. Government scientists constantly analyze nutrition research for a better understanding of how eating habits affect chronic diseases. The guidelines are updated every five years based on these findings.

Though they may sound intimidating, Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 are a great place to start to learn more about what it takes to make your lifestyle a healthy one. They can get you on the road to healthy eating and can be the first step to keeping your weight in check, staying in shape, or getting into shape.

Getting regular physical activity and keeping an eye on the total number of calories you consume are the cornerstones to any weight-loss and weight-management program. And it's more important now than ever before to understand why these cornerstones form the foundation for good health. Obesity rates have risen dramatically in the U.S. Obesity is considered a major health threat because it is a risk factor for several major chronic diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.