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The 2005 Food Guide Pyramid: an opportunity lost?

Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine volume 4, pages 610–620 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Dietary quality has a vital role in the prevention of chronic disease. In 2005, the US Department of Agriculture released a new food guide, MyPyramid, because the previous pyramid was in substantial discordance with current scientific evidence. The US Department of Agriculture pyramids are the most visible source of US nutrition policy and dietary guidance and it is, therefore, imperative they provide scientifically derived recommendations for a healthy diet. Unfortunately, MyPyramid strays from much of the evidence generated through years of research and, in our opinion, fails to provide the public with clear information about healthy food choices. In this Review, we discuss the policy and process behind the development of MyPyramid, assess the current evidence linking diet to chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, and suggest potential alternatives for dietary recommendations.

Key Points

  • The US Department of Agriculture released MyPyramid—which is based on the 2005 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans—to replace the original Food Guide Pyramid, which was in great discordance with scientific evidence

  • The new dietary guidelines are an improvement overall; however, MyPyramid fails to provide the public with clear advice about healthy food choices

  • MyPyramid suggests that it is appropriate to consume half of the recommended amount of grains as refined starch and recommends red meat as a source of protein, both of which have been associated with increased risk of chronic disease; it also recommends high consumption of dairy products without clear scientific data to support this guidance

  • Dietary patterns based on alternative food guides, including the Healthy Eating Pyramid and the Mediterranean Pyramid, which emphasize good sources of carbohydrates (whole grains), fats (plant oils) and proteins (fish, poultry, nuts and legumes), an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and minimal intake of refined grains, sugar-sweetened beverages and red meat, are associated with a lower risk of chronic disease than dietary patterns based on the US Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid

  • Healthy dietary habits are vital in the prevention of many chronic diseases, and it is desirable that the US Food Guide Pyramids, which are widely recognized icons for US nutrition policy, provide scientifically derived guidance to assist the public in making prudent food choices

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Figure 1: The US Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid, which is published under an open-access license by the US Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
Figure 2: MyPyramid.
Figure 3: Potential mechanisms by which diet influences the risk of chronic disease.
Figure 4: The Healthy Eating Pyramid, from Eat, Drink and Be Healthy by Walter C Willett (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001, 2005.)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SE Chiuve is a Research Fellow in the Department of Nutrition, and WC Willett is the Fredrick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition in the Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, at Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,

    Stephanie E Chiuve & Walter C Willett

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  1. Stephanie E Chiuve
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Correspondence to Stephanie E Chiuve.

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Chiuve, S., Willett, W. The 2005 Food Guide Pyramid: an opportunity lost?. Nat Rev Cardiol 4, 610–620 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpcardio1009

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