U.s. Department of Health
Published: 2014-01-26
Total Pages: 188
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This book is a B&W copy of the government agency publication.Executive Summary The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 and the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provide science-based advice to promote health and reduce obesity and risk for major chronic diseases. Together, these two important publications provide guidance on the importance of being physically active and selecting nutritious foods for living a long and healthy life. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide advice for making food choices that promote good health and a healthy weight and help prevent disease. The two main themes of these guidelines are balancing calories to manage body weight and focusing on foods and beverages that are high in nutrients (while controlling calorie and sodium intake). They encourage Americans to eat more healthy 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. The guidelines also emphasize a flexible approach to eating patterns where individual tastes and food preferences are considered. There is also a stronger emphasis on balancing calorie intake with physical activity. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provide recommendations on the amount, types, and level of intensity of physical activity needed to achieve and maintain good health. These guidelines stress the importance of creating a physical activity plan that includes moderate- and/or vigorous-intensity aerobic activities and muscle-strengthening activities that are tailored to a person's specific interests, lifestyle, and goals. The two guidelines go hand-in-hand and together provide important information for developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They are the basis for the Eat Healthy . Be Active Community Workshops. Community Leader's Role in Promoting Recommendations From the Guidelines and Implementing the Workshop Series You play an active and important role in helping people attain and maintain a healthy weight, reduce their risk of chronic disease, and live a healthy lifestyle. The Dietary Guidelines provide these selected consumer messages. More information about the messages can be found at http://www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. Balancing Calories . Enjoy your food, but eat less. . Avoid oversized portions. Foods to Increase . Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. . Make at least half your grains whole grains. . Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. Foods to Decrease . Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals—and choose foods with lower numbers. . Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Healthy eating and physical activity work hand in hand to help us live healthier lives. The Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults be physically active for at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week—children need 60 minutes each day. . You can stay physically active by doing activities such as walking, dancing, bicycling, or gardening and by reducing the amount of time you spend sitting. The Eat Healthy . Be Active Community Workshop Series builds on these concepts by providing detailed tips for how to put these recommended behaviors into practice. The workshops are designed to move participants from the “thinking” phase to taking desired health actions. The workshops and corresponding materials are suitable for all groups of adults, including busy people with limited time and those with low health literacy. Health literacy is the degree to which people have the capacity to find, understand, and use basic health information. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to making the information from the Dietary Guidelines and Physical Activity Guidelines accessible to the majority of the U.S. adult population.
