Third Report on Nutrition Monitoring in the United States The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have released the Third Report on Nutrition Monitoring in the United States, a comprehensive, 2-volume report that reviews and interprets data on the dietary, nutritional, and health-related status of the U.S. population, and factors that affect that status. The report includes recent and trend data on nutrition and health; food and nutrient consumption; knowledge, attitude and behavior assessments; food composition and nutrient data bases; and food supply determinations. The report profiles the nutritional status of Americans in general, as well as groups at high risk of nutritional problems. This report is issued in compliance with a 1990 Congressional mandate to publish a report at least every five years on the dietary, nutritional and related health status of Americans, and the nutritional quality of the food they consume. Under the direction of the Interagency Board for Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research, the report was prepared by the Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO) of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, in consultation with experts from nutrition and health-related disciplines. LSRO evaluated data from Federal surveys, State-based nutrition surveillance systems, and other monitoring activities that are part of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program. Report Highlights: Americans are slowly changing their eating patterns toward more healthful diets, but a considerable gap remains between public health recommendations and consumers' practices. About one-third of adults and one-fifth of adolescents in the United States are overweight. These results represent increases in the prevalence of overweight since the 1970's. Despite significant progress, 20 percent of Americans still have high serum cholesterol levels. Hypertension remains a major public health problem in middle-aged and elderly people. Non-Hispanic blacks have a higher age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension than non-Hispanic whites and Mexican Americans. Many Americans are not getting the calcium they need to maintain optimal bone health and prevent age-related bone loss, particularly adolescents, adult females, elderly people, and non-Hispanic black males. Less than one-third of American adults meet the recommendation to consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. While the availability of food, on a per capita basis, is generally adequate to prevent undernutrition and deficiency-related diseases, the data show Americans report not always getting enough to eat. Approximately 1 in 10 people living in low-income households or families experience some degree of food insufficiency. Both the full report and a separate executive summary are available from the Government Printing Office: Phone (202) 512-1800 (VISA, MasterCard, or GPO deposit account). Fax (202) 512-2250. By Mail: Send check or money order payable to "Superintendent of Documents" to: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Third Report on Nutrition Monitoring in the United States--2 volumes, shrink-wrapped, includes executive summary, 700 pages. Available only as a set. GPO stock number: 001-000-04619-5 ($40.00). Third Report on Nutrition Monitoring in the United States: Executive Summary--45 pages. GPO stock number: 001-000-04620-9 ($3.75). For additional information about how to purchase the printed version of these two reports or how to electronically access the executive summary. Third Report on
Nutrition Monitoring in the United States: Executive Summary. 49 pp National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program Information on U.S.D.A. food consumption surveys is available from the Food Surveys Research Group/U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This page last reviewed October 15, 2008
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