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Assessing the Public's Comprehension of Dietary Guidelines: Use of MyPlate / MyPyramid tools is Associated with Higher Diet Quality, Findings from the NHANES
Author(s) -
Schwartz Jennifer,
Vernarelli Jacqueline A
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.lb462
Subject(s) - national health and nutrition examination survey , refined grains , food group , medicine , environmental health , nutrition education , serving size , food guide , gerontology , energy density , food science , whole grains , biology , population , physics , theoretical physics
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide a framework for food and nutrition programming in the United States as well as the foundation for individualized dietary guidance. Current guidelines encourage the consumption of a diet low in energy density (ED, kcal/g), a variety of vegetables from all subgroups, grains, and limiting added sugars, saturated fats and sodium. Public understanding and utilization of the DGA is not well studied. The objective of this study was to be able to evaluate the relationship between public knowledge of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans assessed by use of the MyPlate dietary plan various markers of diet quality (including dietary energy density and FPED component scores) in US adults. Data from a nationally representative sample of 9,252 participants from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) was used for this study. During the NHANES, participants were asked to report whether or not they had heard of the Dietary Guidelines, and whether or not they had tried the MyPlate/MyPyramid plan. Dietary energy density was calculated using multiple methods; diet quality was assessed using the 2010 HEI and component scores. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 survey procedures to account for the unequal sampling probability and complex survey design of the NHANES. Individuals who reported using the MyPlate plan had better quality diets than individuals who had not tried the MyPlate plan. Users of MyPlate had significantly lower dietary energy density (1.80 vs. 1.98 kcal/g, p=0.0001), significantly fewer servings of refined grains (5.8 vs 6.4 oz, p=0.0007) but more servings of whole grains (1.13 vs. 0.84 oz, p=0.006), nearly double the number of cups of dark green and leafy vegetables (p=0.005), and lower intake of added sugars (18 vs. 21 tsp, p=0.0005) and solid fats (33 vs. 40 g, p<0.0001) after adjusting for age, sex, race, physical activity, smoking status, income, body mass index, and education. These findings support previous work from our group that has demonstrated that self‐perceived diet quality is related to dietary energy density. The results suggest that public understanding of the DGA, specifically among those who have tried the MyPlate/MyPyramid plan may be higher than expected. Future recommendations that promote use of the MyPlate plan may be effective strategies to combat obesity and promote health in the US. Support or Funding Information None.Adjusted mean intake of whole grains. Intake adjusted for age, sex, race, physical activity, smoking status, income, body mass index, and education.Adjusted mean added sugar intake. Intake adjusted for age, sex, race, physical activity, smoking status, income, body mass index, and education.Adjusted mean solid fat. Intake adjusted for age, sex, race, physical activity, smoking status, income, body mass index, and education.