Translating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 to Bring about Real Behavior Change

Since they were first introduced to consumers in 1980, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) have aimed to provide the public with science-based nutrition recommendations to build a healthy diet and prevent diet-related chronic disease. In the following decades, dietary lifestyles have not noticeably improved in the United States. So-called lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis have become more prevalent, and overweight and obesity rates have risen dramatically. Although the dietary guidance has become increasingly evidence-based and rigorously researched by the DGAC, there seems to be an ever-widening gap between the science and consumer behavior. The need for integration and translation of the evidence has truly never been greater, nor has the need for appropriate communications to the public been more important. Here, Rowe et al discuss varying perspective of registered dietitians (RDs), nutrition communicators, and counselors who are engaged in translating guidelines into actionable behavior change among clients and the broader public.