Government Unveils New Food Pyramid

Abstract

THE FOOD PYRAMID HAS RECEIVED a makeover. But even as the curious flocked to the Web site to view the latest version of the US government’s venerable device for nutrition education, critics were questioning whether it will translate into better dietary choices for consumers. In rolling out the new pyramid on April 19, Mike Johanns, secretary of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the icon—now called “MyPyramid”—is part of an overall food guidance system emphasizing a more individualized approach to improve health by making modest changes in diet and incorporating regular physical activity into daily living (http://www .MyPyramid.gov). The new icon features 6 colored panels to represent the need to include a wide variety of food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, oils, meat and beans) in a daily diet. A cartoon figure running up a staircase on one side represents the need for exercise. The MyPyramid Web site offers 12 individualized pyramids and a daily calorie consumption total based on sex, age, and a rough estimate of physical activity on most days (moderate or vigorous activity of 30 minutes, 30-60 minutes, or 60 minutes). But a limitation of the individualized pyramids is that they do not consider stature, a factor that can substantially affect estimates of appropriate caloric intake. A “customized” pyramid concedes that “This calorie level is only an estimate of your needs. Monitor your body weight to see if you need to adjust your calorie intake.”