Interactive
Website Will Help Assess and Improve Your Diet
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture has released an Interactive
Healthy Eating Index, a new on-line dietary assessment tool
that provides a quick measure of a person's diet quality.
"Obesity
in America is at almost epidemic proportions," Agriculture Secretary
Dan Glickman said. "This user friendly website can help consumers
carefully examine their own dietary habits and receive encouragement
to improve diets."
Designed
for use by the general public and nutrition professionals, the IHEI
shows Internet users how well they are meeting current dietary guidance.
The index is based on 10 aspects of a healthy diet for persons 2
years of age and older, as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans and USDA's Food Guide Pyramid.
Consumers
can analyze their dietary status and maintain a cumulative record
so improvements in their diet can be observed. Nutrition messages
targeted to the user's score provide helpful information on diet
and health with links to websites for those individuals with specific
health concerns.
"While
not a substitute for advice from a nutrition or health professional,"
said Shirley Watkins, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer
Services, "the Interactive Healthy Eating Index is a first step
consumers can take to receive science based guidance on healthful
diets."
For
More Information
Media
Contact: Mary
Beth Schultheis, (202) 720-4623
Public Contact: John S. Webster,
(202) 418-2312
4/13/00
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