Contributors to Overweight and Obesity: Nutrition

Overview

• Overweight and obesity result primarily from an imbalance of calorie consumption (nutrition) and calorie expenditure (metabolism and physical activity). (1)
• Every 5 years, the US Department of Health and Human Services prepares a report on dietary guidelines. Evidence suggests that following these guidelines can help reduce risk of chronic illness. 
• Additional evidence suggests that a low calorie diet (under 1500 calories per day) can increase life expectancy.
• There are 2 components to dietary recommendations:

• Fulfilling the daily nutritional requirements
• Staying within a calorie limit.
• Many people consume more calories than they need without meeting the daily nutritional requirements. (See “Adequate Nutrient Needs within Calorie Limits”, Chapter 2 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005.) 
• See the estimated calorie requirements based on age, gender and level of physical activity.Relates to maintaining current weight, not weight reduction.

Food Groups

There are 6 basic food groups:

• Carbohydrates, which include
• Whole grains (complex carbohydrates)
• Sugars (simple carbohydrates)
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Protein (meats and beans)
• Dairy
• Fats and oils (unsaturated, saturated and polysaturated)

The US Department of Agriculture has developed a “Food Pyramid” to describe the types and amounts of each food group that should be consumed in a day.  There is general consensus that a “healthy diet”:

• Emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
• Includes lean meats, beans, poultry, fish and nuts; and
• Is low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol and added sugars.

Specific recommendations are made for children and adolescents:

Additional Resources

• For more information on understanding nutritional labels, visit the US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food safety and Applied Nutrition
• For information on food safety visit the US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Education.
• For a video on understanding and use the nutrition Facts Panel on food labels, visit the US Food and Drug Administration Video Library: The Food Label and You.

Sources

(1) The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity

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Page last updated: 07/18/2006

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