Adequate nutritional information has aided American adults in making healthier food choices, according to a new USDA report.
The unhealthy eating habits of Americans have raised some serious concerns in the past. However, a recent report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service shows that this is changing now, thanks to adequate nutritional information that people have access to.
According to the report, Americans are making healthier food choices, consuming fewer calories and cholesterol and increasing their intake of fiber. Easy access to healthier food choices has also contributed to this cause.
"The Obama Administration is working hard to empower the American public to make smart choices every day at school, at home and in their communities," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. "We have made significant progress, but our work is not done. We will continue to invest in critical programs that expand the availability of healthy, safe, affordable food for all Americans."
Researchers also noted a reduction in the consumption of food away from home. The 2007-2009 recession was partially responsible for this. During this time, there was a 12.9 percent decline in spending on food away from home, which contributed to a 20 percent increase in diet quality. As people began eating at home more frequently, their calorie intake per day dropped by 127 calories. During this time, people also ate 1.5 fewer snacks per month away from home
Researchers of the study noted that people have begun making proper use of the nutritional information provided to them. The report revealed that nearly 42 percent of the working age adults and 57 percent of the older adults reportedly used the Nutrition Fact Panel found on food packages. Even while ordering food in a restaurant, 76 percent of women said they used any nutritional information available to them to make better dietary choices.
"We are pleased to hear that this study finds improvements in several key areas of the American diet," said Michael R. Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "FDA will soon propose an updated Nutrition Facts label designed to provide information that will make it even easier for people to make healthy choices."
On conducting an analysis of a sample composed of 9,839 individuals during the time period 2005-2010, researchers found that there was a 76 percent average drop in calorie intake.
More than one-third (36%) of U.S. adults were obese in 2009-10, up from an estimated 15% in 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the rate remained level in 2012 compared with the prior years in every state except Arkansas, according to a January 2013 study by two nonprofit groups. And the CDC found the same month that certain childhood obesity rates were declining in many states. Researchers also found that people with some kind of college education were also more likely to consume fewer calories and make healthier food choices.
