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Pam, occupational health nurse for a large government office complex, opened the weekly weight control support group with a call for questions. Nanette exclaimed, "Just when I thought I had this healthy-diet thing figured out, the guidelines have changed! What are the differences between the old and the new food pyramids?" Pam was aware of the recent national changes and promised to bring more information to the next week's meeting.
In 1992, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the Food Guide Pyramid to help Americans consume appropriate amounts from each of six food groups. This pyramid was constructed of four levels - the base being the largest level with progressively smaller levels ascending to form a pyramid (Sidebar).
This pyramid was widely used in community health education with the intent of helping Americans consume a healthy diet Because of concern over high rates of obesity and overweight in Americans (Centers for Disease Control, 2005),...