http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/04/19/food.pyramid.ap/index.html
This story is about the new food triangle thingy. I liked the old one. It was easy to understand. It seems to me that Americans (mis)understanding of food, eating habits and nutritional information is already so poor that making it more complex and difficult to understand only makes matters worse.
but anyway, there is a story on the new deal.
I have to agree with you. I think the pyramid needed a little tweaking but overall it was OK. 66% of Americans are not overweight because they received bad nutritional advice from the old pyramid; we are fat because we overeat and don’t exercise, period. The problem is nobody wants to say, “I’m 30 pounds overweight because I overeat at every meal and don’t exercise a lick”. Its much easier to blame the weight gain on carbs or because your metabolism is slowing down.
Dave in VA
Do you mean the two donuts I just pounded are NOT good for me?
Sure they are…as long as you burn them off.
Food…it’s all good.
~Matt
If you turn the furnace up high enough, you’ll burn it.
Dave in VA
Saw this on the news last night and read a couple articles this morning.
I think I’m on the critics side. The “new pyramid” simply doesn’t offer any info. It’s a pretty picture, that tells very little. If you want to actually figure out what your supposed to be eating you have to dig a little deeper. People that before may have glanced at the pyramid and said “Hey I haven’t had enough of “X”” or or “I’ve had to much of “Y””, simply won’t do that anymore.
I’d also like to know how much was spent coming up with this new pyramid. I bet millions, and likely decent graphic artist and a nutriionist could have ome up with something better for a few grand.
~Matt
It was after swimming. Donuts for everyone!
Who knows what to believe anymore. About the same time CNN released that article, the CDC reversed their claim that obesity is as big an issue as they once said it was. They moved it from number 2 on the list of preventable killers to number 7. Just like that. with the stroke of a pen.
Now, they are claiming that being slightly overweight is not such a big concern.
Observation from yesterday: It was a beautiful day here on Long Island (for once) and I skipped my lunchtime workout to go and spend some time with my family at a park near my job. Out of I’d say 20-25 groups of parents/children, almost half were toting the remnants of a fast-food lunch, primarily McDonalds.
So there I am, carrying my bottle of Naked Protein Shake, while my two and a half year old is eating a yogurt, and I’m shaking my head. I remark to my wife that I’m shocked, considering where we are - this park is in one of the most affluent areas of LI - almost every car in the parking lot was a Benz, BMW, Hummer, etc. People who are very wealthy, likely educated at a level way above the national average, and they still don’t get it. My wife shot back at me that it doesn’t matter, rich or poor, educated or not - it’s not that people “don’t get it” - they know, they just refuse to change…
I work in healthcare and I see the result of these habits every day. I used to find it frustrating. Now I try harder not to judge, and just worry about myself, my family - realizing that people are free to make their own choices, no matter how reckless or endangering.
Pyramid, trapezoid, rhombus - I doubt it’s gonna make a difference…
It’s really sad b/c I imagine this will start a new wave of lawsuits.
For a good bellylaugh…check out the website.
Who knows what to believe anymore. About the same time CNN released that article, the CDC reversed their claim that obesity is as big an issue as they once said it was. They moved it from number 2 on the list of preventable killers to number 7. Just like that. with the stroke of a pen.
Now, they are claiming that being slightly overweight is not such a big concern.
this is horrible. someone posted on this yesterday about being a little overweight is better for you, and i saw it on the news this morning. god, that’s just horrible for the public to hear because we (as a public) are a bunch of bulging fat asses sitting down gobbeling up any sort of excuse and horrible food possible. i’m sure after hearing this people will think, “see, it’s ok that I’m fat, studies show it’s acutally healthier” and continue on their heart clogging ways. that little bit of a story just undid years of effort in fighting obesity. i’m furious at this lack of responsiblity that the media has ensued with this hype, and it is also a source of great confusion–is it ok to be fat or not???
no doubt about it loosing weight is hard. give people an out and they’ll take it.
Exactly, and MOST dangerous?? What is the response from most overweight people (ranging from slightly over, to obese) you know? “I’m only slightly over my normal body weight” usually in reference to some chart or index, then their lineage is cited as a genetic issue.
So those who previously thought they were only slightly overweight now just got the green light to continue with their lifestyle. Not that they were going to change, but that they can continue so guilt free.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html
There is a modified food pyramid on this site from the Harvard School of public health that combines the simplicity of the food pyramid with some more up to date advice. From the contents of the site you could conclude tthat the previous pyramid was postively lethal: the focus on eliminating fat meant that some people replaced it with sugars and other “fast” carbohydrates which cause even more harm because they increase appetite.
For the new food triangle, It is good to see a focus on exercise, and I quite like how you can drill down for more specific information, but there’s not a lot there on portion size, which is a significant factor is getting people to eat less.
One thing I know, though: this advice will be completely superceded in the next tne years by yet another view, as it has regularly been for the past five decades.