USDA new Food Guide Pyramid not rated by all experts

The U.S. Agriculture Department, (USDA), in an attempt to combat the obesity epidemic has updated its well-known Food Guide Pyramid with a triangular symbol that emphasizes exercise and urges consumers to use an Internet site to design a personalized plan for healthy eating.

The Bush administration's decision to keep the same controversial food "pyramid," making some cursory changes to encourage healthy eating and exercise, has drawn criticism for being more confusing than helpful. The food pyramid, which was developed in 1992 has been criticized by many health experts for contributing to obesity by promoting foods high in carbohydrates.

The new guide called MyPyramid has been immediately slated by many health experts because it places responsibility on consumers and not food companies. They say it is more confusing and will not help poor Americans and those who do not have a computer.

Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University says the guide panders to the food industry and does not help consumers who are already confused about what to eat. "The people that need the advice the most aren't going to get it," she said.

Margo Wootan, nutrition director of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest says people need very clear advice without having to log on to the Internet.

The new Food Guide Pyramid has a triangle divided by six-different coloured bands representing different food groups with a set of steps beside it and a stick figure walking up them to emphasize exercise.

Food proportions are shown by the different widths of the bands with grains (orange) the largest, followed by dairy (blue), vegetables (green), fruits (red), meat and beans (purple), and fats, sugars and salt (yellow).

The USDA says it shows the actual portions of each food group a consumer should eat on a daily basis to maintain their weight depending on age, gender and amount of daily exercise.

Denise Austin, fitness guru and a member of the White House's Physical Fitness and Sports Council says it is all about calories in and calories out, and putting it simply, the more you move, the more you lose.

It is estimated that two-thirds of American adults and 14 percent of American children are overweight. Obesity is blamed for 400,000 deaths a year.

Both the Grocery Manufacturers of America, the largest food and beverage trade association, and the U.S. food industry welcomed the new USDA icon, saying the integration of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle would increase its effectiveness.

A consumer must go to a USDA Web site - www.mypyramid.gov - and type in information to obtain the recommended servings.