{"id":185,"date":"2023-06-08T02:08:58","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T02:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openpub.libraries.rutgers.edu\/communityinterventionsobesity\/chapter\/chapter-4-dietary-interventions-for-obesity-prevention-2\/"},"modified":"2023-07-07T16:24:52","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T16:24:52","slug":"chapter-4-dietary-interventions-for-obesity-prevention-2","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/openpub.libraries.rutgers.edu\/communityinterventionsobesity\/chapter\/chapter-4-dietary-interventions-for-obesity-prevention-2\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter Four: Dietary Interventions for Obesity Prevention","rendered":"Chapter Four: Dietary Interventions for Obesity Prevention"},"content":{"raw":"
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Authored by: Sherri M. Cirignano, MS, RDN, LDN<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Chapter Outline<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Energy Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Dietary Recommendations <\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Food Groups<\/p>\r\n

Vegetables<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Fruits<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Grains<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Protein Foods<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Dairy<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Added Sugars and Fats<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Alcohol<\/em>ic Beverages<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Dietary Interventions <\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Energy-Restricted Diets<\/p>\r\n

Carbohydrate-Restricted Diets<\/p>\r\n

Intermittent Diet Strategies<\/p>\r\n

Meal Replacements<\/p>\r\n

Emerging Interventions<\/p>\r\n

Summary<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Resources<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Energy Requirements<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To determine the energy requirements needed to achieve a healthy weight, it is necessary to consider an individual\u2019s age, gender, height, weight, and physical activity level, as well as goal weight if appropriate. Although determining energy requirements comes down to a matter of energy in through food eaten and energy out through both biological activities such as breathing and physical activities, it is not as easy as it sounds. There are mathematical formulas and other more precise methods that are used by registered dietitians and other healthcare professionals to determine an individual\u2019s everyday energy needs, but these are not practical for use by the general public. For a consumer to estimate their energy requirements, there are sources such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,<\/span><\/a> (DGA) that provide a generalization of estimated needs throughout life.1<\/sup> This resource includes changes in daily calorie needs based on an individual\u2019s activity level whether it be sedentary, moderately active or active.<\/p>\r\n

In general, energy requirements are higher for males than females, and according to the DGA range from 1,000 to 2,000 calories per day for young children; up to 3,200 calories per day for adolescents; 2,600 to 3,000 calories per day for adult men; 2,000 to 2,400 calories per day for adult women; 2,000 to 2,600 calories per day for older adult men; and 1,600 to 2,000 calories per day for older adult women.1<\/sup> Keep in mind that calorie needs can be increased during the greatest periods of growth throughout life including during childhood and adolescence as well as during pregnancy and lactation. An increase in calories may also be needed when the body is experiencing stress as a result of major injuries and\/or illnesses.<\/p>\r\n

Calculating individual calorie needs is easier than ever with an extensive variety of phone apps and online sources including the <\/span>MyPlate Plan<\/span><\/a> on the USDA\u2019s MyPlate website.<\/span>2<\/sup> How these estimated calorie needs translate to the food we eat is also important to consider. What portion of these calories should come from each food group? The MyPlate Plan can also help with this by linking to an individualized calorie-specific plan including daily recommended amounts to include for each food group. Numerous phone apps, books, websites, and other resources can also be utilized to help determine a specific plan. For example, the <\/span>Nutrition Facts <\/span>Label<\/span><\/a> provides calorie as well as other nutritional information on the majority of food packages. Updated in 2016, the changes to the Nutrition Facts Label have worked to achieve a more consumer-friendly look and to provide information that reflects \u201cthe link between diet and chronic diseases, such as obesity and heart disease.\u201d<\/span>3<\/sup> The goal of the updated label is to make it easier for consumers to make informed food choices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Dietary Recommendations <\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Historically, weight management guidelines created to address adult obesity were first offered in the late 1990\u2019s by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and other guidelines followed in 2003 by the US Preventive Services Task Force, the American College of Physicians in 2005 and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) in 2009.4<\/sup> These guidelines were created to assist healthcare professionals with planning for weight management and obesity treatment.<\/p>\r\n

Further assistance regarding dietary recommendations is available for healthcare professionals and consumers in the DGA. The DGA are published jointly by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture approximately every five years. The DGA are published as a requirement under the 1990 National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act, and they are based on the \u201cpreponderance of current scientific and medical knowledge.\u201d5<\/sup> Utilized to create Federal nutrition education materials by the HHS and USDA, the DGA\u2019s intended purpose is to promote health and prevent disease.<\/p>\r\n

Although some information in the Guidelines have remained fairly constant over the years, the current evidence points each new DGA update in a specific direction. The 2020-2025 DGA were created with a lifespan approach, are the first DGA to provide guidelines for every life stage, from birth through older adults, have a focus on the importance of healthy dietary patterns over individual nutrients and were created with the high prevalence of chronic diseases, including obesity, among Americans in mind.5<\/sup><\/p>\r\n

The 2020-2025 DGA offer a \u201ccustomizable framework\u201d that can be adjusted to meet individual needs as well as make choices that are affordable and fit within individual and family traditions and customs. The Guidelines are summarized in the Executive Summary of the 2020-2025 DGA<\/span><\/a> and as follows:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n \t
  1. Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary considerations.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and stay within calorie limits.<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Limit food and beverages higher in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, and limit alcoholic beverages.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Putting the DGA into practice has been made easier over the past decade since the creation of USDA MyPlate7<\/sup> (add graphic to pg.) The USDA MyPlate graphic was born out of the 2010 DGA and its use by consumers has been found to be beneficial in determining individual needs through the MyPlate plan6<\/sup> perhaps due to its simple design. MyPlate is meant to represent a virtual daily plate that includes five food groups-fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy foods. It\u2019s accompanying resources are updated with each new DGA and can be found on MyPlate.gov<\/span><\/a>. Resources include print materials in both English and Spanish, a mobile app to assist with daily choices, tools to test consumers\u2019 nutrition knowledge and assist with healthy shopping, and MyPlate Kitchen<\/span><\/a>, which includes many healthful recipes and how-to videos.<\/p>\r\n

    The current nutrition messages that are provided by MyPlate are as follows:<\/p>\r\n

    The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite. Small changes matter. Start Simple with MyPlate.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n