One of the Governments most important responsibilities is to protect the health of the American Public ; today about half of all Americans adults about 117 million people have one or more preventable chronic disease (ODPHP ,2018). Many of these chronic diseases can be attributed to poor eating habits and physical inactivity. In 2008 the medical costs linked to obesity were estimated to be 147 billion and in 2002 the total estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes was 245 billion including 176 billion in direct medical costs and 69 billion in decreased productivity . This issue has also been brought forth by the CDC and also by healthy people as well as Alzheimer's researchers , but most importantly by the folks at Rural Health and Vitality Institute ; why is this important ? because these folks analyze and observe health from an individual and community perspective and identify the factors within your own region and environment that might hinder health and well being . The new edition of the dietary Guidelines 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is based on Scientific Evidence on nutrition and health informed by this report and by consideration of public and Federal Agency comments . The guidelines are as follows :
1- Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan .
2-Focus on variety , nutrient density and amount of food consumed
3-Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats
4-Shift to healthier food and beverages
The Mediterranean Diet has been proven to address dietary needs related to many chronic diseases . It must be reiterated that for the past 26 years half of all adult population in the United States is over weight or obese (ODPHP,2018) is is very troubling to most Governmental agencies in public health ; in fact obesity is most prevalent in those ages 40 and older , in African Americans and of least prevalence in higher income population . Another fact that can be derived from the new guidelines is that abdominal obesity has been prevalent in about half of all U.S adults of all ages .In 2012 65% of all females and 73% of all Males were overweight ; and in 2009 to 2012 nearly one in three youths ages 2 to 19 were overweight . The Mediterranean diet consists of eating whole grain foods , vegetables and nuts . Another portion of the Mediterranean diet is olive oil and or sunflower oil . This eating pattern will reduce fat in the following ways it will it will counteract against building visceral fact which is abdominal fat and work to increase its use as energy ; visceral fat is fat that leads to heart disease , Alzheimer disease and many other chronic illnesses .
References
ODPHP (2018) Healthy People 2020 . 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Retrieved from http"//www. healthy people .gov/2000/tools-resources/evidence-based-resources/2015-2020-dietary-guild lines-for-american
Mayo Clinic(2018) Mediterranean Diet "A Heart Healthy Eating Plan . Retrieved from http://www. mayo clinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition -and healthy-eating in depth/Mediterranean Diet/art- 20047801
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