The Impact of Dietary Guidelines

Dietary guidelines have a significant influence on public health and nutrition policies worldwide. In the U.S., regulations mandate that all federal programs, such as school lunches and meals served in nursing homes, adhere to these guidelines. Despite starting in 1980, these recommendations have not evolved to reflect new research, leading to a disconnect between the guidelines and current nutritional science. This stagnation is problematic, as obesity and chronic diseases have surged since the introduction of these guidelines, raising questions about their efficacy.