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Table 3. Common Themes in Current Dietary and Lifestyle Recommendations

Recommendations ACS AHA ADA1 ADiabA NIH AAP USDA/HHS, FDA Consume adequate calories to achieve/sustain desirable weight. + + +2 + + + + Maintain intakes of total fat at 30% of total energy, saturated fat at 10% of total energy, and cholesterol at 300 mg per day. + + +3 +4 + + + Eat a variety of foods and emphasize foods from plant sources (fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes). + + + + + + + Choose a diet moderate in sugars and salt. + + + + + + + Maintain an adequate level of physical activity. + + + + + + + Do not smoke. + + + NR + + + If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation (1–2 drinks per day). + + + + + NR +

ACS indicates American Cancer Society; AHA, American Heart Association; ADA, American Dietetic Association; ADiabA, American Diabetes Association; NIH, National Institutes of Health; AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; USDA/HHS, FDA, US Dept of Agriculture/Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration; and NR, no specific recommendation.

¹ The American Dietetic Association has no published dietary guidelines but concurs with those of the USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the National Cholesterol Education Program.

² Note that growing children should not be placed on restrictive calorie diets (ADA, 1995).

³ Supports the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans but also recommends that nutritional adequacy of diets of children at various fat-intake levels be evaluated with respect to effects on growth, development, and disease prevention.

⁴ Based on nutritional assessment and treatment goals. Supports <10% of calories from saturated fats and 300 mg cholesterol per day.

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