Psychiatrist Says USDA Food Pyramid “Goes Out on a Limb,” Recommending Aim for a Healthy Weight, More Physical Activity
Psychiatrist and author of “The Foundation Diet” (Zen-Fusion Publishing, $22.95), Dr. Anthony J. Burlay, says the USDA is still far from recommending healthy guidelines despite a revision of the Department’s Food Pyramid.
(PRWEB) January 15, 2005 -- Psychiatrist and author of “The Foundation Diet”
(Zen-Fusion Publishing, $22.95), Dr. Anthony J. Burlay, says the USDA is still
far from recommending healthy guidelines despite a revision of the Department’s
Food Pyramid. It has been twelve years since the last USDA Food Pyramid revision
and, in that time, there has been a near doubling of obesity rates in the United
States.
In this revision, the same government department responsible for
the marketing of the nation’s agricultural wares suggests that Americans be at a
healthy weight, be more physically active, and eat plenty of US agricultural
products. “That’s really going out on a limb,” Dr. Burlay says sarcastically.
“In the time they had to review current data, including testimony from various
entities, I am disappointed at their final results,” he says.
“The new
guidelines suggest losing weight if you are overweight or obese. This is tucked
away in a small paragraph, without instructions as to how to achieve a permanent
change in daily food choices,” says Dr. Burlay. “The perpetuation of ‘calories
matter mythology’ continues as well,” he says. The healthy base of the text
speaks of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and moderate fat. But, “the actual
pyramid looks very similar to the previous antiquated, ineffective model,” says
Dr. Burlay.
An alternative is to consider eating according to
“evolutionary guidelines,” says Dr. Burlay. “Our bodies were designed against a
very different menu in our evolutionary history over the course of several
million years. Early human ancestors had a very different ‘pyramid.’ The
original diet consisted mostly of fresh vegetation, infrequent and seasonal
fruits, some nuts, the occasional root or tuberous plant, and meat acquired in a
variety of ways,” he says.
Part of this evolution includes the advances
in human thinking and the increased complexity of daily decision making.
“Decisions about food choices are much more complex than following a list of
recommended foods. Our food choices are the result of a combination of body
signals, cultural influences, habits, events, people, emotions, and beliefs,” he
says. Losing weight is relatively easy, physiologically. “Maintaining the result
is a matter of understanding your decision to change, making daily eating habits
livable, managing common pitfalls, and being diligent in your commitment to a
new direction in eating choices,” says the Psychiatrist.
There clearly
needs to be a different approach in the public’s education to stop the obesity
epidemic that is only worsening. Oversimplification and recommended food lists
are not enough. With complete information about their physiology and psychology
Americans would make better decisions about their health and food choices.
Without such an education, “people will not make reasonable food choices and
will continue to be ambivalent in the face of conflicting information,” says Dr.
Burlay.
Anthony Burlay, M.D. attended medical school completed his
Psychiatric Residency at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. He is Board
certified in General and Addictions Psychiatry and is the author of “The
Foundation Diet: Your Body Was Designed to Eat,” (Zen-Fusion Publishing, $24.95)
available at Amazon.com and major booksellers. Learn more about how your body
works at www.FoundationDiet.com.
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb197432.htm